At Large Representative Honourable Stacy Mather recently reiterated calls for the RATED programme to provide more substantive career development opportunities to youth beyond short-term manual labor roles.
He offered to collaborate on reforms aimed at unlocking the initiative’s potential.
Speaking during budget debates, Mather expressed uncertainty over intended new investments in the current RATED structure, which largely offers bush clearing and similar work.
To truly empower young Virgin Islanders, Mather advocated enhancing mentorship, training and internships through RATED.
Though supportive of the initiative’s spirit, Mather believes the model must evolve from temporary labour to vocational development tailored to individual talents and goals. He stressed that refocusing on participants’ futures would convert RATED into a meaningful, lasting opportunity.
