Kerzner International and Baha Mar development company have teamed up for a multimillion-dollar apprenticeship programme that is expected to help hundreds of Bahamians become skilled to benefit from the opportunities of billion-dollar projects.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Education Minister Alfred Sears said he recognizes that the traditional curricula presented to today’s students must be made more relevant in order to embrace emerging technologies and opportunities.
“The workplace evolves rapidly and employers require workers with sophisticated skills. For our economy to grow as planned, our schools must prepare students to fill the vast majority of positions which are developing in our construction, utility and hospitality industries, amongst others,” Minister Sears said.
In addition to Kerzner (owner of the Atlantis Bahamas Resort on Paradise Island) and Baha Mar, other partners in the initiative include the ministries of Education and Labour, the Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute (BTVI) and the Bahamas Contractors Association (BCA).
“There are present day economic realities, which we must prepare our students for,” said Minister Sears at the press conference held at the Ministry of Education on Thompson Boulevard.
“Globalization is a reality. For The Bahamas, this means that our country is expected to do business with the world using the powers of modern technology. The products and services we produce must be of a high standard. The skills we impart (to our students) must enable them to respond to regional as well as global challenges.”
The launch of the apprenticeship programme follows the Ministry of Education’s initial discussions with Kerzner officials earlier this year about training initiatives designed to meet the employment opportunities being created during the mega resort’s phase three expansion.
Minister of Labour and Immigration Minister Vincent Peet gave the initiative his stamp of approval, adding that the move marks a clear manifestation of a commitment being honoured by both hotel properties.
“We see this as the beginning of a long-term relationship because we know that investments are springing up all over the country, that there is great demand for skilled Bahamian labour and that as the Immigration Minister, I am challenged – by applications – to bring into this country skilled personnel to do work that Bahamians can and should do,” he said.
Minister Peet further noted that while there will always be a need for certain types of outside labour, the goal is to reduce those numbers to a very small percentage. He added however that it is not just good enough for Bahamians to sit back and complain that nothing is happening, considering that the opportunities are now there for those who wish to work.
Senior Vice President for Kerzner Development Rick Bodge said the programme marks a significant step.
“I strongly feel that if we can develop in a matter of two years between 150 and 200 tradesmen that would certainly fill a gap that is needed in our industry,” Mr. Bodge said.
Those sentiments were strongly echoed by Baha Mar’s Vice President for Administration and External Affairs Robert Sands, who said his company’s commitment to the development, transformation and renaissance of the local tourism industry is not only based on the development of physical assets, but human capital and assets.
“We see this initiative today not only as a stopgap to create opportunities within the construction phase, but we also see the opportunity to create a qualified pool of maintenance workers beyond the construction phase, as well as a cadre of the best and brightest minds within the hospitality industry,” Mr. Sands said.
The initiative has been divided into six industry apprenticeship programmes in the construction trade – carpentry, electrical installation, masonry, plumbing, air condition and refrigeration and metal fasteners.
According to Minister Sears, approximately 180 apprentices have already been recruited for the construction trade programme, drawn from several sources – BTVI, both Kerzner International and Baha Mar and referrals by the Department of Labour.
Kerzner officials say roughly 117 persons began the programme this past Monday.
The group will receive theoretical as well as on the job training on site of Kerzner International, owner of the Atlantis Resort, a stipend of $50 per week during classroom training and a wage of $6 an hour during on-site training.
The cost has been pegged at $1 million per year or $3 million over the three-year cycle.
Beyond the classroom training, this translates into a total investment in excess of $7 million
The apprenticeship programme will be funded through the Ministry of Education’s budget.
Baha Mar and Kerzner International will provide additional funding of $1 million each per year.
“These investors have demonstrated a commitment to the development of The Bahamas,” Minister Sears said.
“Investments which facilitate skills and technology transfer and intellectual capital transformation will lead to the enhanced development of our country.”
It is envisioned that once the tradesmen have completed Kerzner International’s third phase, they would be ready to launch into Baha Mar’s first phase.
But officials have stressed that the success of the programme will depend on the attitude of participants.
“This is not an entitlement programme,” said Ed Fields, vice president of public affairs at Atlantis.
“This is a programme that says the opportunity is there and you [can] take it and commit yourselves to a good work ethic.”
From: The Bahama Journal
