BASSETERRE ST. KITTS (August 16, 2009) -- When the St. Peter’s-based Hotel Trades and Hospitality class of the Youth Empowerment through Skills (YES) Programme got to the point of displaying the skills they have so far learned, they chose the historic Bloody Point in Challengers.
The Challengers Community Centre was Wednesday afternoon, August 12, the venue of a sumptuous luncheon hosted by the ten participants based at St. Peter’s Community Centre under facilitator Arlene Rawlins, where they invited the area’s St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party parliamentary candidate, Glenn Phillip, as the guest of honour.
“Over the past few months young people across the Federation have accepted the challenge to retool themselves with new skills as they better improve their options,” said Phillip. “Incredibly, the government has had great foresight with this endeavour, because this has impacted on hundreds of young people and is quite evident.”
The Labour Party candidate, who was accompanied by Minister Dr Earl Asim Martin, congratulated the facilitator, Arlene Rawlins, for the crucial role she has played in nation building. He pointed out that she had assisted the government to create a young and creative generation by unleashing unselfish knowledge and skills and passing the knowledge baton to another generation.
He also congratulated the participants of the YES Programme for their willingness to learn where they were benefitting from the excellent training opportunities that would allow them to compete equally in the improved service in the tourism industry. According Phillip, the Federation was just one of the many countries that had embraced tourism as a major economic pillar.
“Therefore the quality of our service has to be a distinguishing factor that will enable us to compete on global stage, hence the participants must now take this training and build on it,” he advised. “Go forward and become the best you can in the hospitality field. The opportunities are there for you. There is really no limit if you are determined to succeed in this industry.”
The Labour Party candidate, who made a name for himself as a national basketball player and administrator, and later as a marketing executive, now turned politician, told the participants not to limit themselves to just becoming employees with the new skills they were learning.
“Consider other options, such as becoming small business owners, because the government has put the facilities in place for young entrepreneurship and with the help of the Development Bank (of Saint Kitts and Nevis), you can use this opportunity to make a start as young entrepreneurs,” he further advised.
s
“I understand that you participants will be going out on attachment programme shortly – do your best. All eyes will be on you as this is an unprecedented programme. Look for the opportunities and I look forward to hearing of your future successes,” ended the chief guest before he sat to enjoy the lunch.
Course facilitator, Arlene Rawlins, told the gathering that the YES Programme was a strategic plan devised by the government to introduce, educate and train the citizens of the country in fields that are in need of skilled and educated employees.
“This programme has played an important role in our society by providing a productive environment in which persons can use their time and energy to help better themselves,” noted Rawlins. “Today you will see the success of this programme and the individuals involved, as we celebrate with them.”
Chairing the proceeding was course participant, 23-year old Charlene Otto, who echoed her facilitator’s sentiments by stating that the Youth Empowerment through Skills (YES) was an innovative programme put on by the government to empower young people to build a career.
“My time in this programme has taught me immeasurable skills that are useful in the hospitality industry,” said Otto. “Youth Empowerment through Skills has given many young persons, including myself, a solid authoritative figure in their lives. In other words, a role model: My role model - our role model - has been Arlene Rawlins, who has been in this business for over 16 years.”
Also attending the luncheon were YES Programme secretariat staff led by the manager, Vancelyn Williams, YES Programme field coordinator, Joseph O’Flaherty, facilitators from other hotel trades and hospitality classes, and their students, with a large group coming out of the St. Paul’s group.
