Government Launches Financial Services Education Project at ESHS

Local attorney Ms. Tamia Richards making presentation on financial services industry to fourth and fifth form students at the Elmore Stoutt High School on Wednesday, October 22 as part of an initiative by the International Finance Centre to make students more aware of the industry and the opportunities available. Photo Credit: Mr. Ronnielle Frazer/GIS

The initiative spearheaded by the International Finance Centre (IFC) is aptly titled Developing the future Human Capital of BVI Financial Services – ESHS Student Education Project.

IFC’s Chief Operations Officer, Ms. Sherri Ortiz told the Department of Information and Public Relations the objective of the project is to increase understanding of the BVI Financial Services Industry among high school students and to help them prepare for financial services related careers.

 “Basically the programme seeks to provide high school students, primarily fourth and fifth formers, a greater understanding of the BVI financial services industry and its significance to the economic viability of the Territory as an international financial centre.
 
In so doing, students are informed of professional opportunities available within the industry and the preparations they need to make in order to participate in the industry’s future development.”

The IFC executive is hopeful that this latest initiative will help to create a cadre of local persons who better understand the industry and are keen to be part of it in the future. “The programme benefits from the generous support of persons in the financial services private sector, who join students in the classroom to provide presentations describing the various sectors of business engaged in the industry,” Ms. Ortiz said.

“The presentations, while informative, are also interactive and intended to engage students in a discourse with technically trained practitioners who help them become more comfortable with the inner-workings of the industry and its service offerings,” the IFC official added.  ~~Adz:Right~~

Close to 60 students attended the launch of the programme which included a very enlightening presentation from local attorney with the law firm Harneys Westwood and Riegels, Ms. Tamia Richards.

The young attorney provided a wealth of information for the students, explaining to them the general core service offerings including company incorporations, trust services, banking, mutual funds and insurance. Ms. Richards also outlined to the students the various careers available within the industry and how they should prepare themselves for initiating their career goals.

“What I would like them to take away is that they can do it”, Ms. Richards said.  “Anything in life is achievable with a little bit of work, a little bit of elbow grease. I was a student 16 years ago at this school and I want them to know I am not a special person, I worked hard to achieve my goals and they can do it as well,” the young attorney added. 

Guidance Counsellor at the ESHS, Reverend Keith Lewis welcomed the IFC initiative saying it forms part of the career development programme at the high school. “The career development programme as its name suggests is to create consciousness in the students and to expose them to a wide breath of employment opportunities.” He added that the ESHS is “very grateful that the government has come into the school to partner with us and to help our students as they prepare to leave the school.”

Reverend Lewis said BVIslanders must own the industry and not be passive participants if it is to be sustained. ”In order to build and sustain ourselves as a people we must become owners of our own destiny and not always be reliant on others.”

Additional sessions are planned for November 2008 to expose more students to the benefits and the career opportunities available in the financial service sector, which is one of the main pillars of the BVI economy. The programme is expected to continue into 2009.