THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM suggesting that the authorities utilise the HEART trainees on the construction of the units on the Urban Renewal Projects, as utilising the trainees would:
Significantly reduce the labour cost on the units (the trainees could be compensated above the stipulated allowance currently being paid by the government) thus making the unit more affordable.
Provide the necessary on-the-job training as part of their internship for receiving their final Certification.
Allow the trainees to gain the necessary work experiences needed in preparing them for the job market.
The HEART Trust has committed to training persons to global standards and so the formal training that they would have received would put them in a position to produce work of the highest standard and quality than what now obtains on the sites. Most if not all of the persons now operating as tradesmen and demanding high wages learned their skills by unorthodox ways with no formal training which is one of the major contributing factors to the poor quality work being done on sites today.
I am very much aware that the contract for the Urban Renewal Project was awarded to Asthrom and that the method of construction to be used is the precast building system which utilises mostly unskilled labour.
The HEART trainees could easily fit into this system as they would have already gone through the basic training in the various skills needed.
I am, etc.,
A. PERKINS
Spanish Town
