— Prime Minister Gaston Browne is urging businesses in Antigua and Barbuda to provide part-time and summer jobs to young people from struggling families, saying employment and community support can help keep vulnerable youths away from crime.

Speaking Saturday on the Browne and Browne Show, Browne drew on his own childhood experiences as he appealed to businesses to identify young people who need assistance and give them opportunities to earn money.

“This is where I think business people can help impoverished youth, especially those who may have a little ability before they turn to crime and violence,” Browne said.

“Give them a little part-time job. Give them something to do.”

Browne said small jobs were important to his own survival while growing up with limited financial resources.

“Because, I mean, a little job for the dollar a day helped me,” he said. “And then when I stepped up to the $20, that is how I really survived and could buy a little thing to go to school and so on.”

Appeal to gas stations and other businesses

Browne said businesses do not have to be large to make a difference in the life of a struggling student.

“So I want all people — this way the private sector can help — no matter how small your business is,” he said.

He specifically mentioned gas stations as businesses that could provide opportunities to schoolchildren rather than relying solely on adult workers.

“Even the gas stations, for example, there’s no reason why, for example, you just have to wait for all the immigrants to come to the country to fill the positions,” Browne said. “Give schoolchildren a little break, I mean in the evenings.”

He agreed that summer employment could also provide young people with income and work experience.

“They can go, especially during summer and so on,” he said. “Precisely. This is how you can help the impoverished youth.”

Browne recounts helping struggling student

The prime minister also described recently learning about a student whose family was experiencing financial difficulties after his father died and his mother lost her job.

Browne said someone had taken the student shopping for clothing after learning about his circumstances.

He said he subsequently provided $1,000 through that person to assist the student, whom he described as academically promising and taking 13 subjects.

“When you have those kind of youth within society, they need the support,” Browne said.

“You don’t have to know them.”

Browne said assistance does not always have to involve significant amounts of money. He recalled people giving him food when he was young and said those gestures mattered during difficult periods.

“If you know you have a neighbor that’s struggling,” he said, “at least you can go give them a little food.”

The prime minister said communities have moved away from some of the support systems that existed when he was growing up.

While Browne said difficult circumstances should not be used to excuse criminal behaviour, he suggested that some young people may feel isolated and unsupported.

“Maybe sometimes, too, you know, they just feel as though there’s absolutely no support,” Browne said. “People don’t care about them.”

“But, again, they need to be more resilient.”

His appeal formed part of a wider discussion on youth crime, parenting and the role Browne believes families, businesses and communities should play in supporting young people before they become involved in criminal activity.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: PM Calls on Businesses to Give Struggling Students Part-Time Jobs.