Good morning members and staff of the Skills Development Programme, family members and members of the media.
Let me start by saying how delighted I am to stand here today at another Skills Development Programme awards ceremony. Nothing brings greater joy to me than to see young people benefit from a programme such as this.
The Skills Development programme would not be possible without the partnership of the Garden Club of Bermuda, the Bermuda Industrial Union, the Department of Parks and our many sponsors. The SDP began in 2015 and since that time has seen over 150 participants.
The newly established relationship with Kingston Maurward College saw in October 2019, representatives of the Department of Parks and the SDP travel to the College located in Dorset, United Kingdom who specialises in land-based studies to develop and deliver a series of Training Programmes on island.
Through this partnership, expertly qualified staff from the Kingston Maurward College conducted a five (5) day freetraining course in horticulture and arboriculture to locals within the industry. Thirty-Five (35) individuals from various entities including SDP, the Corporation of Hamilton, the Bermuda Land Development Company,Port Royal Golf Course and Gibbons Gardens tookadvantage of this training to improve their respective skill sets.
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 atree).
We are in discussions with Kingston Maurward College toexpand this relationship by utilising the College as well as conducting other courses on island in the future.
The individuals graduating today have worked tirelessly honing and refining their skills while embarking on the odyssey to improve and increase their prospects of employment.
I would like to congratulate the latest participants:
• Deandre Ball
• Zylah Bean
• Kidane Callender
• Kadre Jacobs
• Tevin Grahame
• Jonah Hassell
• Jahvon Hayward
• Vahzai Robinson-Lambe
• Mical Russell
• Tristan Scott,
• Kyjah Simons
• Reg Souza and
• Iyahadae [I-Yaun-dae] Wright
For their success thus far and wish them well as they continue on their individual journeys. From this group – 5 will be joining the Department of Parks as full time employees. We will work with the remainder and the horticultural industry to seek full time employment.
The Skills Development Program Awards Ceremony reflects the hard work and dedication of the Board comprising of Mr. Roger Parris, Ms. Cindy Young, Ms. Anna Fulton, Mr. James Gibbons, Ms. Melody Parris, Mr. Temar Richards and Mr. Clarence Santucci in conjunction with the experts from Kingston Maurward College with the assistance of countless volunteers.
The fruits of their labour in providing a safe environment to host ‘hands on’ training opportunities for young women and men in the Horticulture industry are evident here.
I would like to again congratulate the graduates on their accomplishments.
As this programme continues to expand in the New Yearwith an increased maximum number of participants from fifteen (15) to twenty (20). The Government will continue to work with our partners to support the Skills Development Programme.
Let me end again by thanking Roger & Melody Parris for their vision in creating this programme and continuing to champion it.
Thank you!