The government has taken its National Training Agency (NTA) to the second city to now prepare Grand Bahamians for that island’s economic revitalisation.
It is anticipated that between 250 and 350 registrants will participate in this phase of the programme, bringing the total complement so far to almost 1,000.
“Grand Bahama and The Bahamas, as a whole for that matter, is on the brink of an unprecedented economic growth,” Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday during the official opening. “This success and economic turn-around will be realised by those persons who adequately prepare themselves by acquiring the proper education, training and development, as well as re-certifications. I encourage all Bahamians and Grand Bahamians, in particular to seize the moment and to start preparing themselves now for this economic rebound.
“The time has come when Grand Bahamians will no longer have to leave their beloved home and families in search of jobs and better economic opportunities in Nassau, Exuma, Eleuthera and Bimini.”
The government pushed ahead last year with establishing the NTA after discovering that foremost among the issues preventing youth employment are the skills gap for the jobs available and the dearth of soft skills like attitude, punctuality, conflict resolution team work, good grooming and management of personal and employer expectation.
NTA applicants must complete the four-week mandatory Workforce Preparatory Programme.
Once successfully completed, they are then referred to the appropriate programme to complete the skills and competency training.
“Thus far, the focus has been on housekeeping food and beverage service, food preparation, customer service, retail knowledge internship and auto service internship,” Mr. Christie pointed out.
“Further, the services of the National Training Agency, are available free of charge in New Providence, as they will be made available free of charge to all registrants in Grand Bahama who are seeking a better quality of life through training.”
The opening of Grand Bahama’s NTA comes at a time when the government anticipates positive economic outcomes from a number of developments throughout the country.
Over in Grand Bahama, these include the joint venture agreement with Sunwing/Blue Diamond Group, Hutchinson Whampoa and the government for a new four-star Memories Resort, upgrades by Balearia to expand its existing 400 passenger ferry to a newer and larger 1,200 passenger ferry and the opening of the Island Outsource Contact Centre in Freeport with a projected 200 employees by year’s end.
The Christie administration is also “in contact” with the parties of the former Ginn Development in West End to review the project and is currently reviewing proposals to provide major attractions in Grand Bahama.
Three hundred and seventy-one young people have already graduated from the NTA in New Providence.
Its mandate is to put 2,500 persons to work by mid-2015.
