RENEE RUSSELL
Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
Although the so-called financial meltdown of the 1990s began affecting Jamaica late that decade, Renee Russell says she felt an economic crunch coming on from as early as 1992. The tell-tale signs came during visits to her school's canteen.
"When I was in first form, I was getting $20 a day for lunch money so that was $100 a week. By the time I was in third form, it was up to $100 (a day)," Ms. Russell told The Sunday Gleaner. "By the time I got to college, it was $250 (a day) and everything had escalated."
life is difficult
One month shy of her 26th birthday, the former Campion College student says things have continued to deteriorate economically in Jamaica, making life difficult for her and her peers. In fact, Ms. Russell who hosts the Jamz Packed afternoon show on Mega Jamz FM, believes an unstable business climate and unemployment are the biggest obstacles facing the country's youth.
"It's difficult for young persons to get jobs that they want and it doesn't matter if you are highly educated or undereducated," she said. "In the last 13 years, there has been a steady decline in the availability of jobs for us. It's evident when you go on the road and you see a lot of young people lingering."
According to the buxom radio announcer, the rampant unemployment among Jamaica's youth is not limited to persons in the low-income bracket. "I have friends who are university graduates. They have their degrees, they're searching for jobs and can't get jobs," she said.
She blames this scarcity
of jobs on Jamaica's stagnant economy, even though the Government has consistently said the country has passed the worst and is poised for growth.
"I don't see it (growth)," she said. "I'm not into the political thing but I'm talking about what I see day to day, and I'm very disappointed."
Ms. Russell considers herself fortunate to be working in media in which she hopes to build a long-term career. Kingston-born, she graduated from Campion with seven CXC passes and majored in social studies at the Moneague College in St. Ann.
jobs
After a stint as an entertainment coordinator, she found work at Mega Jamz, one of
several radio stations that have sprung up in Jamaica during the past 10 years. Her show, which runs for four hours, revisits
popular songs from the 1970s and 1980s. For all its problems, Renee Russell has never thought of taking the migration route, an alternative for many her age.
"No, I'm not leaving. This
is my home no matter what happens," she said.
