Public Works Minister Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch announced a new ‘101 Jobs for 101 Days’ initiative to put 101 people back to work.

Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, he said roughly $1 million has been budgeted for the programme that was “not a gimmick but real employment for people right now”.

Illegal Dumping at former Club Med site in St George’s

Although the jobs will initially be temporary, he said that he was “certain that some full-time work will come from this exercise as private contractors working with us will observe the work ethic and habits of some of the workers”.

The first group of 20 workers start Monday at the former Club Med site in St George’s at $525 a week to remove garbage dumped at the East End site illegally for years.

“The remaining participants will be administratively processed to commence work the following week,” he added.

Two other projects — the renovation of the former Hamilton Police Station on Parliament Street and the removal of furniture and demolition work at the IAS Building on the city’s Church Street are planned as well.

“There are several other small projects that will be assigned to the 101 Team going forward as the need arises,” said the Minister.

Work on the former police station is expected to start next week. Anyone interested in participating should contact 236-0540 or 295-8623.