Over 600 Residents Benefitting From Skills Training
By: , May 17, 2015The Key Point:
Photo: Minister of Education, the Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites fifth left at the door) , is assisted Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon Derrick Kellier third right) as he officially opens the Clarks Town Branch Library, Trelawny on Friday May 15. Sharing the moment are lr) Charge de Affaires Delegation of the European Union, Jesus Orus, a senior student of Clarks Town School, Councillor of Sherwood Content Division, Telka Holt, Mayor of Falmouth, Councillor Garth Wilkinson and Chairman of the Trelawny Parish Development Committee, Carla BinghamLedgister right).
Minister of Education, the Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites (fifth left at the door) , is assisted by Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon Derrick Kellier (third right) as he officially opens the Clarks Town Branch Library, Trelawny on Friday May 15. Sharing the moment are (l-r) Charge de Affaires Delegation of the European Union, Jesus Orus, a senior student of Clarks Town School, Councillor of Sherwood Content Division, Telka Holt, Mayor of Falmouth, Councillor Garth Wilkinson and Chairman of the Trelawny Parish Development Committee, Carla Bingham-Ledgister (right).The Full Story
More than 600 residents in sugar dependent communities across the island are benefitting from a vocational skills training programme being delivered through the Sugar Transformation Programme (STP).
This was disclosed by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Derrick Kellier at the official opening ceremony for the Clarks Town Branch Library in Trelawny on May 15.
The library which was constructed at a cost of $18 million through a partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Jamaica Library Service (JLS) is among five libraries that have been built under the Sugar Transformation Programme.
Mr. Kellier told the audience that training is being provided through partnership with agencies such as HEART Trust/NTA and that participants will be certified in vocational skills at the completion of training in September 2015.
“Also further to that the (government) will be assisting 40 of these individuals in the establishment of their own small business enterprises,” the Agriculture Minister stated.
In addition, Minister Kellier said rural libraries such as the Clarks Town Branch Library will prove useful to current and future community-based training programmes.
Meanwhile, Director General of the JLS, Karen Barton expressed appreciation for the joint efforts of all stakeholders in getting the building for the library completed.
She noted that a new and appropriate accommodation for the Clarks Town Branch Library had been on the agenda of the JLS for many years.
“It was through the efforts of the Clarks Town Community Development Committee (CDC), that the grant funding was secured to build the new library on lands belonging to the Long Pond Estate which was leased from the Sugar Company of Jamaica Holding limited (SCJ) in October 2013 for 49 years with the option to renew for another 25 years,” she explained.
She stated that it was partnerships such as the one forged between the Clarks Town CDC, SCJ Holding Limited, the STU and JLS that have over the years assisted the Library Service in accomplishing its mission.