Mr. Speaker, today I would like to bring to the attention of this Honourable House the successful training of Thirty-Five (35) Bermudians within the Horticultural industry through the partnership between the exceptional Skills Development Programme (“SDP”) run by Mr. Roger Parris and his team, the Department of Parks and The Kingston Maurward College.
Mr. Speaker, since 2015 the SDP has provided a safe environment to host ‘hands on’ training opportunities for young women and men interested in the Horticulture industry by empowering participants with life skills and enhance their opportunities to qualify for employment. To date, this initiative has successfully trained over one hundred and fifty (150) participants.
In 2019, the Board of the SDP approached the Bermuda Department of Parks to potentially develop the programme further. In October 2019, representatives of the Department of Parks and the SDP travelled to Kingston Maurward College located in Dorset, United Kingdom who specialises in land-based studies to develop and deliver a series of Training Programmes on island.
Mr. Speaker, through this partnership, the SDP is just concluding a five (5) day free training course in horticulture and arboriculture to locals within the industry conducted by expertly qualified staff from the Kingston Maurward College in the U.K. Thirty-Five (35) individuals from various entities including but not limited to: the Corporation of Hamilton, BLDC, Port Royal Golf Course and Gibbons Gardens took advantage of this training to improve their respective skill sets.
Mr. Speaker, this training was divided into two (2) separate courses over the five (5) day period. One being an Introduction to Chainsaw operations which included Safe operation, Chainsaw Maintenance, Felling (cutting down of trees) & Crosscutting (cutting across its main grain or axis of a tree).
The other course being an Introduction to Practical Horticulture Skills in which the attendees were taught how to work safely while demonstrating industry best practice in land cultivation, soil for sowing or planting, applying organic mulch, caring for a planted area, identifying plants and shrubs and pruning techniques (cutting off dead/unwanted parts of a bush or tree).
Today, the final day of these respective courses, the thirty-five (35) participants will be assessed and I anticipate all will pass and receive a KMC certificate to demonstrate their proficiency. With this certification, it is anticipated that these individuals’ opportunities for educational scholarships and/or employment will increase.
Mr. Speaker, it should be noted that there has been a large surge in demand from other entities requesting to be included in any future training events as well as those who have just completed the course have shared their keen interest in participating in future training. Because of this interest it is envisioned that this horticulture training programme and partnership will continue and fruitfully grow over the years, no pun intended.
Mr. Speaker, these are the programmes this Government recognises and expressly supports. I would like to thank the Skills Development Program Board of Mr. Roger Parris, Ms. Cindy Young, Ms. Anna Fulton, Mr. James Gibbons, Ms. Melody Parris, Ms. Temar Richards and Mr. Clarence Santucci.
I would also like to thank the training team from Kingston Maurward College of Ms. Steph Addison, Ms. Joanna Jeffery and Mr. Nigel Hewish – who travelled to our Island to conduct the training.
And finally, thank you to all of the technical officers within the Department of Parks for providing opportunities for those in the local horticulture industry to improve their skills. This Government looks forward to seeing this programme expand in the future and will continue to support it.
Thank you Mr. Speaker.