Government yesterday celebrated the success of the Small Jobs Work Programme, which found 23 unemployed Bermudians temporary work.The programme, coordinated by the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), was tasked with hiring Bermudians for small, maintenance jobs, such as the painting of several of the Island’s post offices.Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Patrice Minors said the project benefited both the public, and the participants.“We recognise that putting people back to work for 12 weeks is a temporary solution, however it is a start and we have some great success stories,” she said.“Some of the workers have been offered full-time positions as a result of their participation in the programme.“Others have expressed that they have a renewed sense of self worth and are determined to continue to seek full time employment.”Following the success of the project, Ms Minors announced that the BEDC had been awarded two new projects, including work on a bus stop and further post office renovations.“The BEDC will use their tendering process to manage these projects, and the winning construction incubator graduate will again hire unemployed persons to complete the work,” she said.“By working with and developing our small contractors and entrepreneurs who have graduated from our construction incubator programme, they are being encouraged to hire from an existing pool of labour and a local workforce to complete and build their business.”Marlene Carty, the co-owner of MarCarty Construction who won the previous bid, thanked the Ministries involved in the programme, saying they were pleased by the team hired for the project.“The job programme was a great initiative, especially because it provided jobs for persons previously unemployed. At least they were able to put food on their tables for the holiday season,” she said.“The project is finished, however we continue to get calls asking if there is anything else to be done. It is a new year, but the problem of unemployment is still very much alive.”