Minister Nadir says Basil Williams is like Don Quixote
–    Nadir was at the time responding to PNCR claims of higher unemployment
LABOUR Minister Manzoor Nadir has refuted claims by the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) that unemployment figures have increased over the past two years, pointing out that government has been pursuing a ‘job led growth strategy’ which has been swelling the ranks of the employed. While (specific) figures have not been readily available, the Minister feels strongly that his estimates are more accurate than those of PNCR Member of Parliament, Basil Williams.

Minister Nadir said the figures quoted by Williams, as published in a media report on Monday,  show a declining pattern.

According to a statement from Nadir, Williams is said to have quoted that, “The 2002 census conducted by the Bureau of Statistics revealed that in 2002, the number of unemployed was 31,072 or 11.7 percent and he said that a Household Budget Survey done in 2006 showed that the figure for the unemployed was 28,024.” This was countered by Nadir, who pointed out that the economy has shown consecutive growth over the past 4 years and more than 5% over the base year of 2008.  Thus, rationally one can crudely suppose that at least 5% more people have found jobs.  

Annual Growth rates since 2006.
Minister Nadir, in a statement, alluded to another claim by the PNCR, this time that  more people are leaving the country, which is a challenge for that party during elections time in previous years.  

In his response to this claim, Nadir said he would like to remind Williams that, “If the population is declining and the unemployed increases, the unemployment rate will decrease.  That is basic maths.”

Williams is like Don Quixote, “ tilting at windmills” Nadir continued.

The Minister says that the data from the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency has shown an increase in the amount of persons being placed in jobs.  That placements are up over 100% since 2006.  This trend has continued in 2010.  Already we have placed 25% more persons in jobs in 2010 than in 2009, first quarters. 

Nadir said what is even more interesting is that vacancies that are listed with the Agency are up by 52%.  Some 430 listed in 2009 as against 648 in 2010. 

On this note, Minister Nadir commended the efforts of the productive sectors of the economy and the macro management of the economy.  “The strategy of macro economic stability in terms of a stable exchange rate and controlling inflation, along with a heavy public sector investment programme has successfully produce growth with jobs, a credit to the PPP/C government,” Nadir stated. 

“Is the rate of employment too high as Williams claims?” he querried.

Nadir said from the evidence provided earlier, even the skeptics must accept that the unemployment rate is declining.

According to him, the government would like to see that every citizen who would like a job can get a job. “Anyone who is unemployed is a concern for us.  That is why we encourage people to train and retrain,” Nadir said.
“The vacancies at the CRMA are there because we do not have the skills that these job demand, readily available,” Nadir added.
Nadir said workers also have to be ready and willing to move to where the work is.  “There is a great reluctance to move to different geographic locations where jobs are,” the minister observed.

“I am confident that the Guyanese people will see even more development and jobs as the government continues in its quest to soundly manage our socio-economic development,” Minister proclaimed.