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Minister of Labour and Social Security, Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo and owner of Crane Residential Resort, Paul Doyle (left), pose with some of the interns who graduated from the training programme. (C. Pitt/BGIS)

Lauding the Crane Residential Resort for being "a steward in the area of education", Minister of Labour and Social Security, Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo, recently praised management of that hotel for helping to develop the skills of its staff by providing consistent and continuous training initiatives.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony for interns and employees of the Crane who achieved the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) Designation, she asserted: "The Crane has set an example for other companies to follow, and I encourage those companies which are not now hosting interns to consider doing so."

The Labour Minister noted that internships and job attachments were critical to the development of the Barbadian workforce and stressed that these opportunities were fundamental to combating youth unemployment.
"In Barbados, our unemployment figure is in the region of 12 per cent, but when you look at youth unemployment, that figure is over 20 per cent… This is not just a government problem, and when we attempt to [provide a solution for] youth unemployment, [we must note] it is something that all of us need to address," Dr. Byer Suckoo said.

In addition, she also praised the resort for its efforts to "strengthen our human capital".?? Noting that the Barbados Human Resource Development (HRD) strategy also sought to accomplish this, she explained that for the HRD strategy to be successful and sustainable, there was a need for public and private sector collaboration.

"…this will also redound to the economic benefit of all Barbadians, since it will provide greater employment opportunities both in and out of Barbados and it will allow us to be more competitive with other jurisdictions in the various sectors, particularly the offshore sector," Dr. Byer Suckoo outlined.

Applauding management of the Crane for training not only its line staff but also its supervisors and interns, she observed: "Over the last three years, this leading tourism entity has demonstrated its intention to collaborate with educational institutions in the provision of internships and work experience activities.?? You, the Crane, have made a commitment to provide scholarships, internships and teaching faculty for programmes administered by the Barbados Vocational Training Board and the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic.

She further acknowledged the Crane’s sponsorship of a one-year internship prize for the winning participant of the upcoming Worldskills Barbados Competition.?? That skills contest is slated for March 7 to 9.

Referring to the AHLA designation, the Labour Minister stated she "strongly supports this training initiative".?? Noting that it meets international standards and is competency-based, she stressed that such training and certification had become a worldwide phenomenon that fulfills the "need for greater integration between education and training and the world of work."

shamkoe.pile@barbados.gov.bb

Author: Shamkoe Pil??

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