Good news! After four weeks of waiting, the estimated 600 local youth who are employed on Tutuila under the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), administered by the Department of Human Resources, will receive their first paycheck today at 2 p.m.

SYEP participants working in the Manu’a Islands will be paid at a later date, as they started the program at a later date and their time cards were submitted just last week.

This is according to Makerita Enesi, head of the DHR Training Division, when asked by Samoa News last Friday.

Enesi clarified that today’s checks will cover the period from July 6 – July 18, the first two weeks of the program. “From here on out, checks for the kids will be issued on a normal schedule.

The SYEP is set to conclude in two weeks on August 14

Enesi explained that different ideas were bounced around, including the issuance of one check for each of the participants, “for the entire lump sum to cover the duration of the program.” However, she added, several parents were calling to inquire about the paychecks, with some expressing the need for money to help pay for school supplies.

Some SYEP program participants who spoke to Samoa News were looking forward to getting their paychecks last Friday. Enesi said a ‘special run’ will go through today for the issuance of SYEP paychecks.

The checks will be disbursed in the middle lobby area of the A.P. Lutali Executive Office Building (EOB) in Utulei and SYEP participants are to present proper ID along with their social security cards for identification verification. More information can be obtained by calling 633-4485.