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| Labour Minister, Senator Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo greets Canadian High Commissioner to Barbados, Richard Hanley prior to their courtesy call at the Warrens Office Complex??.(C. Pitt/BGIS)?? |
Ways of developing of local human resources were high on the agenda yesterday afternoon, when High Commissioner of Canada, Richard Hanley, paid a courtesy call on Minister of Labour, Senator Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo, at her Warrens Office Complex office.
The two government officials discussed the success of existing programmes and projects, such as the farm labour programme and explored how these and other ventures could be enhanced. The Minister and High the Commissioner both agreed that as a result of Barbadians being gainfully employed abroad, worthwhile contributions were made through their work and various towns in Canada also derived economic benefits.
With the High Commissioner observing that employers in his country were faced with the challenge of thousands of skilled jobs going unfilled, Dr. Byer Suckoo assured him that efforts would be dedicated to matching the skills set of persons in Barbados to the needs Canada’s labour market.?? She added that, where technical and vocational education and training was concerned, bringing local training standards in line with Canada’s Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program for skilled workers, was being given serious consideration.
Speaking about his consulate’s social contributions, the Canadian envoy said the most recent endeavours, including assisted funding for the Pinelands Creative Workshop, the Counselling Addiction Support Alternative Programme and the promotion of the black belly sheep industry.
Mr. Hanley also elaborated on the work of the Canadian International Development Agency and its Promotion of Regional Opportunities for Produce through Enterprises and Linkages (PROPEL) project, which seeks to enhance the capacity of regional farmers for the provision of quality agricultural products to large purchasers.
Canada established diplomatic ties with Barbados November 30, 1966.