Caribbean News
Eighty More Jamaicans Off to Canada Under SAWP Programme
#Kingston, August 8, 2018 – Jamaica – Another 80 Jamaicans will be taking up employment opportunities in Canada under the Seasonal 
Agricultural Workers Programme (SAWP). The workers, who comprise 80 per cent returnees, will be deployed mainly to Ontario and Nova Scotia.
In her address to the workers at a send-off ceremony held at the Ministry of Labour’s Overseas Employment Services Centre in downtown Kingston on Friday (August 3), Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Shahine Robinson, encouraged them to be good ambassadors for Jamaica.
“Ensure that you conduct yourselves in an acceptable manner, both on and off the job, and be your brother’s keeper. Be sure to perform your duties to the best of your ability, bearing in mind the importance of productivity and accountability,” the Minister urged.
Mrs. Robinson further encouraged them to work hard, distinguish themselves, and ensure that they comply with the terms of their contract, and to make their family and country proud.
“This will ensure that your employer continues to request not only your services but that of other Jamaican workers,” she said.
She added that the programme represents a long-standing tradition of partnership between Jamaica and Canada and has positively impacted the lives of many Jamaicans, who have used the opportunity to improve their standard of living and that of their families.
In the meantime, High Commissioner of Canada to Jamaica, Her Excellency Laurie Peters, said the programme has been a success for both Jamaica 
and for Canada, “because it means such a boost to the livelihoods of Canadian farmers and Jamaican workers and, in fact, our economies”.
“It is lovely to see not only the 80 per cent returnees who make this programme so successful, but also the 20 per cent of newbies who are perhaps starting a legacy or tradition for themselves and for their families,” she said.
This was the second official send-off ceremony to be held since the start of the year. The first took place in January.
The SAWP, which is part of the Ministry’s Overseas Employment Programme, involves contractual agricultural workers who are recruited to meet the short-term demand of manual labour during planting and harvesting seasons.
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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