Barbadians Encouraged to Pursue Trades for Sustainable Employment Opportunities

Barbadians are being encouraged to pick up a trade to help them earn an honest living.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley made the suggestion while pointing out there were plenty of opportunities available.

“There are welders, masons and carpenters working for more than bank tellers and administrative officers in Government. There are landscapers who make a decent living and earn far more than other people who work doing other things that may appear to be more glorious.

“Once the work is decent and honest, then by all means, do not let anybody distract you from doing that work. Anything in life that comes too fast, goes just as fast. And fast money, fast life, fast death. If it is too good to be true, believe it is. You can do what you want but never as long you want to because it catches up with you,” Mottley said.

She was addressing the Project Dawn graduation ceremony at Ilaro Court, Two Mile Hill, St Michael, on Thursday night.

The Prime Minister recalled that Government established several programmes which could be used to help people develop various skills, including the Barbados Youth Advanced Corps, the Highway Beautification Project, the National Transformation Initiative and the Construction Gateway Programme.

Mottley urged more people to sign up for the Construction Gateway.

“We recognised the country would face a construction boom as it is doing now. With the best will in the world, even if we were to take everybody who could work in construction, we probably would still need more skills.

“So I want you to continue to urge those in your community who have basic capacity but don’t know how to be a mason, carpenter, welder or tiler.”

She said that on Tuesday, Parliament will be dealing with the Health Services amendment which will create an obligation for all owners of properties to keep their properties clean. She noted that landscapers could benefit from this.

“That is going to mean either you do it yourself, and hire the people that weed whackers and landscaping businesses; or if you don’t do it, that Government have to do it for you and you will us back what we paid, plus a fine that we had to do it for you.

“This is going to create opportunities for many of you who are involved landscaping,” she said.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Charles Griffith said ministry will continue to host several programmes to empower people.

“We are giving our young people of wings to fly. We are striving to ensure can meet as many people as possible programmes that are happening,” Permanent Secretary Joy Adamson details about Project Dawn, which people

graduating during the ceremony. said that under the guidance of Griffith, they reconstructed the Block Committee June 2023. That committee now falls the Block Transformation Unit and Marcus Stephen, former youth commissioner hire the businesses; Government will have to pay for the fact opportunities in Community said his several people plenty ensure we possible through happening,” he said. Adamson shared which saw 235 ceremony. She Griffith, Committee in falls under and is led by commissioner and current project coordinator.

“The committee has visited several blocks and areas to interact with young persons across the island. Through several meetings with many groups, this committee was able to identify persons and get referrals from rehab groups, the Barbados Police Service, educational institutions, guidance counsellors, Members of Parliament and youth commissioners.

“The Block Committee also had the opportunity to conduct presentations at Verdun House where they were able to identify individuals who could benefit from assistance,” she said.

Adamson added that after the interviews, individuals were directed into vocations such as farming, landscaping, hair braiding, car valet, cosmetology and other areas.

As part of Project Dawn, seven vocations/ courses were taught at Barbados Community College, 12 at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology, seven at the Barbados Vocational Training Board and one at the ministry. ( TG)