CSI Targets Kingston/St. Catherine Communities

Close to 30 youths from inner city communities in Kingston and St. Catherine have improved their employment chances through the Community Security Initiative’s (CSI) Employment Readiness Programme, a customer service course.
The course is accredited by City & Guilds and aims at improving the employability and customer service skills of the participants.
Speaking at the awards ceremony at the Courtleigh Hotel, New Kingston, on April 27, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Ms. Dianne McIntosh, said that economic empowerment of people, particularly those in the most vulnerable categories, is one of the most important drivers for corporate restructuring and behavioural change. To this end, she noted that the Ministry of National Security, through its Community Security Initiative (CSI), is seeking to create programmes which foster employability.

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Dianne McIntosh (left), City and Guilds Representative in Jamaica, Marva Duncanson (centre) and Director, Customer Service Academy, Dr. Ben Henry, reflecting at the awards ceremony at the Courtleigh Hotel in Kingston on Tuesday (April 27) for the Employment Readiness Programme of the Community Security Initiative (CSI) which aims at improving the employability and customer service skills of inner city participants.

“It is necessary to focus on empowerment of our people, in the broadest sense of the word, as the crucial requirement for a sustainable solution to poverty and hunger,” she said.
She applauded the CSI team in seeking to improve the skills and employability of individuals, while propelling “the vulnerable among us to greater heights.”
“I salute those who have grabbed the opportunity to improve themselves through the programnmes that have been available through the CSI, and I challenge you to continue striving to improve yourselves. This training programme is just another step on the ladder upwards and outwards into self improvement,” she said.
Participant in the programme, Dianne Lowe, noted that the initiative has assisted her tremendously over the years and is playing a vital role in her life.

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Dianne McIntosh (left) in discussion with graduates of the CSI customer service course, Melissa Allen (centre) and Dianne Lowe, during the awards ceremony at the Courtleigh Hotel in Kingston on Tuesday (April 27). The course, which is accredited by City & Guilds, forms part of the Employment Readiness Programme of the Community Security Initiative (CSI) and aims at improving the employability and customer service skills of the participants.

Residents of the programme are drawn from Brown’s Town (Dunkirk), Highlight View (Mudd Town) and Matthew’s Lane, Kingston, and March Pen Road.
Since the programme started in 2007, over 250 job opportunities have been identified and some 118 residents placed in permanent jobs. Persons are employed at Sunset Jamaica Grande, Jamaica Pegasus, Club Hotel Riu, China Express, Cuisine Management Limited, Rainforest Seafoods, Jampet, Budget Supplies, Mothers, Restaurants of Jamaica, Rapid True Value, Sealy Posturepedic, Tools Hardware and Supplies Limited, among others.
The CSI forms part of the government’s anti-crime initiative, which reflects aspects of the National Crime Strategy dating back to 2005 to 2006. Communities which are chosen by the security forces are seen as being marginalized due to their high levels of violence and gang warfare.