#Freeport, GB, April 6, 2019 – Bahamas – A one-day High School Technical and Industrial Forum and Exhibition was held at St. George’s Gymnasium on Friday, April 5 with the hopes of closing the existing skills gap for industry and technology.
Keynote
speaker for the event, Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis said
opportunities exist for high school students to have successful careers in
these areas.
Also
in attendance were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. K.
Peter Turnquest; Minister of Labour, Senator the Hon. Dion Foulkes; Minister of
Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie Campbell; Minister of
State in the Office of the Prime Minister for Grand Bahama, Senator the Hon. J.
Kwasi Thompson; Permanent Secretaries and other senior government officials;
several businesses and students from Grand Bahama and Bimini.
“For far too many years, the Government has had to approve work
permits for non-Bahamians for technical and industrial positions that should be
filled by Bahamians.
“The problem is that we do not have enough Bahamians properly
trained to fill many of these positions.
“Bahamians are capable, resourceful and adaptable. But there are
not enough Bahamians trained in a number of technical areas. With the expansion
of our economy nationally, and on Grand Bahama, this is an even more urgent
matter, especially as construction, our second largest industry will need many
more employees and workers.”
He further stated, “Reduction of the skills gap in The Bahamas is
critical in reducing unemployment, increasing productivity and improving the
ease of doing business.”
The Technical and Industrial Forum is as a result of a symposium
held in September 2018, under the theme, “Forging our future, assessing and
analyzing the skills gap in The Bahamas.” At the event, over 150 leaders in industry,
education, government and labour met “to craft a comprehensive approach to
address the skills deficiency in our country.
The Prime Minister urged the students to stay focused, ask questions and make contacts during the Forum. He told them, “It is by persistence and perseverance that you will be able to achieve your goals.”
By Robyn Adderely
Release: BIS
Photo Caption:
Header: Following the official opening ceremony of the High School Technical and Industrial Forum and Exhibition at St. George’s Gymnasium on Friday, Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis spoke with students about one of the exhibits. Minister of Labour, Senator the Hon. Dion Foulkes, is seen just behind the students.
Insert: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis (right); Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest (third right) and Minister of Labour, Senator the Hon. Dion Foulkes (second right), discuss the Grand Bahama Shipyard display following the official opening ceremony of the High School Technical and Industrial Forum & Exhibition at St. George’s Gymnasium on Friday, April 5, 2019. Prime Minister Minnis toured all of the booths and took a few moments to speak with several of the students present.
(BIS Photo/Andrew Miller)