Unemployment takes a serious toll on Jamaicans; 600 turn up for 10 vacancies

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Unemployment is becoming a serious problem in Jamaica and to underscore the current situation, 600 persons recently turned up to apply for 10 vacancies at the Captain's Bakery and Grill in St Andrew.  In a recent story in the Jamaica Gleaner entitled “We want work”, the newspaper reported that the cry for jobs has been echoing across the island. "You have a job can give me?” one frustrated woman asked the Gleanerreporters, while others offered to do any sort of job that was available.  The Gleaner report stated that that thousands more Jamaicans had lost their jobs in the past 12 months and indications that the worsening global economic crisis could cause many others to be sent home.  The government, which was elected in 2007 with a promise to create "jobs, jobs and more jobs", has said that it is “pulling out all the stops” to find new job opportunities.  The Minister of Labour Pearnel Charles has announced that his Ministry will be switching its focus from industrial disputes to human-resource development.  According to Charles, the government will spend approximately J$90 million (US$1 million) to train and place Jamaicans in jobs locally and in the wider western hemisphere.