60 Jamaicans to be Trained in Canada Under MoU

Sixty Jamaicans are to be trained in hospitality tourism and the culinary arts, under a training project to be delivered through a partnership of the Jamaican Government and Canadian colleges.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), for the project was signed between the Government and Red River College and the College of the North Atlantic, today (May 21), at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Downtown Kingston.
Under the MoU, Red River College, located in Manitoba, will train 20 persons in the area of culinary arts. Some 40 Jamaicans will enrol at the College of the North Atlantic, with 20 studying hospitality tourism and the remainder learning cookery.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Andrew Gallimore, said the agreement will be of benefit to Jamaica, as the country’s most important resource, its people, will be gaining educational advancement. He added that it was admirable that Canada’s interest in Jamaica was not only aligned towards gaining persons for work, but also towards catering to the educational status of the island’s people.

President of Red River College, Canada, Dr. Jeff Zabudsky (left) and Vice-President of Development and College Advancement at the College of the North Atlantic, Corinne Dunne, look at a book authored by Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, which was presented to them by Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Andrew Gallimore (standing). The occasion was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the Canadian colleges, to provide training for some 60 Jamaicans in the field of hospitality tourism and culinary arts, held at the Ministry’s office on North Street, Kingston on May 21.

“We appreciate you making the trip, it shows the level of commitment that you have and that you recognise that what is being pursued between our countries is truly a win-win situation for all parties,” the State Minister said.
President of Red River College, Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, said the institution is looking forward to embracing the Jamaican students. “There is a win-win opportunity here for Jamaica and Canada,” he added.
Meanwhile, Vice-President of Development and College Advancement at North Atlantic, Corinne Dunne, said the college is pleased to open its doors to Jamaicans wishing to study at the college.
“We are really looking forward to it, we have put in a lot of hope and expectations to making sure that it’s successful,” she said.
The Jamaicans are scheduled to commence their study at the colleges this summer. At each college the programme will last for eight months, with four months of work training.
Mr. Gallimore explained that plans are already underway to enrol another batch of students in the institutions when this cohort has completed study.
Red River is also embarking on another programme with the Government to train persons in the field of automotive repair. That initiative is scheduled to commence this September.
The representatives of both colleges, during their visit in the island, are also meeting with heads of several community colleges to offer their academic programmes as a choice of study for Jamaicans.
Canada and Jamaica have enjoyed a close relationship, with thousands of Jamaicans benefitting from work programmes, such as the Canada/Jamaica Agricultural Workers Programme. Jamaicans have also been recruited by the Ministry to work as industrial mechanics, chefs and security guards in Canada.