It's been a few weeks now since the LIU program was put on pause and its members have stopped receiving a stipend. The then minister of home affairs Mira had told us that the program had not stopped and they were simply conducting a review, but when we had asked the prime minister he told us that the LIU was never intended to be used as a long term employment program, and that the 3 million annually being used to support the program could be funneled elsewhere.
We followed up with the commissioner today for an update on the program and he says that the assessment is still underway.
Jomarie Lanza:
"You were one of the architects for the LIU program. Now that it has been put on pause, are you guys prepared that these youths may choose to retaliate against the state?"
Dr. Richard Rosado:
"You would have to appreciate that social intervention programs must be based on evidence. And under Mr. Mira's tender, tenure, or tenureship, certain feedback we recited required us to do assessment of the social intervention programs and based-or based on, determining whether they actually have an impact. We-I believe that by doing an assessment, it gave us the opportunity to show that we are accountable, transparent, and we embrace evidence-based approach, and we embrace continuous improvement. So it gives us an opportunity to make a thorough assessment to be done."
Reporter:
"When did the assessment start and when will it conclude? And will those results be made public, as it is youth from our own society who are beneficiaries?"
Dr. Richard Rosado:
"Please appreciate that only one or two programs is currently under assessment or on a pause-temporarily on pause. The then minister, Minister Mira, and CEO and I, we sat with the director of the LIU; the minister explained his position to him."
"To the director, they were given a month or two notice to inform individuals on the ground of the programs that will go under assessment. So there were ample times for us to do the necessary adjustment, and everybody involved knew about the adjustment or assessment that was being made."
"The assessment is in the process of wrapping up, but we do recognize that whatever social intervention program we implement, there must be meaningful behavioral change, and hence the reason for the assessment of certain programs."
