Be Prepared to Contribute for a Productive Future – Assamba

Minister of Industry and Tourism, Aloun Ndombet Assamba, has appealed to students to make use of every educational opportunity to prepare for a productive future and to contribute to the country’s development.

The Minister, who was addressing the annual Youth Tourism Awareness Conference where she spoke on the topic: ‘Tourism and Me,’ told the students to consider what their lives would be like in the next 10 to 20 years, when they should be taking on adult responsibilities.

“I want you to look to the future, to look to 10 years, 20 years from now, and ask yourself, where will we be as a country, and where will I be in this country, and how am I preparing myself now, to make sure that I am going to be part of that future,” she said.

The conference, which was held on September 29 at the Rose Hall Resort and Country Club in Montego Bay, was part of activities to mark Tourism Awareness Week from September 25 to October 1.

The Tourism Minister told the over 200 students in attendance, that poverty was no excuse for failure, noting that many of the country’s leaders came from humble beginnings.

Mrs. Ndombet Assamba, in assuming her role as political advocate in the fight against HIV/AIDS, also appealed to the youngsters to be responsible in their sexual habits to prevent contracting sexually transmitted diseases.

“I am talking to you about this because the epidemic of HIV/AIDS is a very serious thing in Jamaica, in the Caribbean and in the world. More and more of our families are suffering because there are people who have contracted the disease”, she said.

“Each one of you has a responsibility to yourself to make sure that you protect yourself from this disease, because if you don’t, then the future I am speaking to you about, which is where our country is going to be 10 years from now, or 20 years from now you won’t be there”, she pointed out.

The Minister told the gathering, that she had pledged to speak publicly about the disease, and called on other public officials to do likewise.

The conference also included an address from President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Horace Peterkin on ‘Career Opportunities in the Tourist Industry’ and a panel discussion on the topic: ‘Cricket World Cup 2007: What does this mean for Jamaica?’