Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter
THE JAMAICA Hotel and Tourism Association (JHTA) in collaboration with the Jamaica Employers' Federation (JEF)and the Private Sector Organisation (PSOJ), yesterday launched a joint Youth Career Development Programme.
President of the JHTA, Horace Peterkin, conceptualised the programme which, he says, in its initial stage will seek to employ 1,000 youths across the island. He said that this programme will take the format of the Sandals/Flankers (START) Career Development Programme.
Mr. Peterkin said that he believes the best way to fight crime is to take potential wrongdoers off the street. He explained that the programme is geared towards recruiting male school leavers and dropouts, but will also include females. At a time when Jamaica is said to be the murder capital of the world, Mr. Peterkin said he believes crime can be cut significantly if youngsters are taken off the streets and given a reason to be proud of themselves.
"We need to make sure that we go beyond just what we need, to ensure that we provide an opportunity for youngsters to make something of their lives," he said.
SUPPORT
The programme, which will be facilitated by 27 companies islandwide, also has support from the HEART Trust/NTA. Robert Gregory, executive director of HEART, said "Education makes you trainable and training makes you employable and attitude keeps you employed." He added that the programme provides an avenue for the youth to achieve.
Wykeham McNeill, State Minister in the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, said the programme is a practical approach to two of the major challenges that confront individuals in Jamaica.
"On the one hand, we have a large cadre of youth with no experience, varying qualification and limited opportunities for employment," the minister said. "On the other hand, we have corporations with tremendous capacity for on-the-job learning and intellectual technical resources that can make the difference to the employability of the youth."
Youngsters who participate in the programme will receive a weekly stipend, and on completion will receive assistance from the JHTA to find employment.
