PM Says Former 2 Drilly Members Could Be Hired to Paint Government Buildings
Prime Minister Gaston Browne says young men previously associated with the 2 Drilly group could be offered paid work painting public buildings as part of a wider push to improve communities and redirect at-risk youth into legitimate employment.
…Speaking on the Browne and Browne Show, Browne outlined a new initiative to “refresh all public buildings,” saying the government intends to involve young men who have been “on the block” by giving them small contracts to carry out painting and beautification work.
“We want to take them off the block and give them contracts to go and… paint government buildings,” he said.
He then referred directly to the group known locally as 2 Drilly. In the transcript he said, “I don’t know if 2 Drilly is still around. And I hope they’re not around as a gang.
They can probably come and check me. We can give them a job to paint the fisheries there so they can put some money in their pocket for Christmas.”
Browne said the plan is part of a broader effort to support the country’s social and cultural development, explaining that the government’s outlook is “not just about… GDP and so on.”
Instead, he said the administration is “looking at the soft aspects in terms of the culture of the people, to have a well-cultured people and to have a clean and attractive environment.”
He framed the initiative as both economic and social, aimed at giving young men alternatives to street life while improving public spaces ahead of the Christmas season.
“We’re trying to freshen up the place for Christmas,” he said.
The prime minister did not disclose when the programme would begin, but said the government will be identifying teams within communities to undertake the work.
