The Tribune

By LETRE SWEETING

lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

OFFICIALS say the upcoming Labour on the Blocks job fair this weekend promises to be the “largest job fair ever”.

Five months after the job fairs hosted by the Department of Labour in May under the Labour on the Blocks 2.0 initiative in New Providence and Grand Bahama, they are set to host another job fair in the capital with preparations for some 2,000 job seekers.

Leroy Major, member of Parliament for Southern Shores, said he expects it to be “the largest job fair ever”.

The job fair will take place on Saturday, beginning at 9am, at Anatol Rogers High School in conjunction with the constituencies of South Beach, Carmichael and Southern Shores.

Labour and Immigration Minister Keith Bell said this upcoming job fair will include four exciting components to further assist jobseekers, including assistance with new work clothing at all Department of Labour locations, and an upgraded training programme.

“The team for the Department of Labour has also planned a number of other options, including, but not limited to, one, training opportunities facilitated by the National Training Agency, BTVI, Cybertech and the National Maritime Academy. Two, the job readiness programmes. Three, dual enrollment at BTVI. Four, closet access (clothes) for jobseekers wishing to be interviewed at the job fair,” he said.

Mr Bell said that while the job fair will be held in southwest New Providence, all jobseekers and students are invited to attend and the government anticipates having another job fair in Freeport, Grand Bahama in the very near future.

Labour Director Robert Farquharson said that with the inclusion of training programmes and dual enrollment programmes, high school students are encouraged to attend this upcoming fair.

“They (students) could spend 80 percent in the high schools and 20 percent at BTVI. If we could get the young men and women certified from grade 10, when you graduate at grade 12, you will be certified and have a piece of paper that says you are qualified to perform these jobs. That’s a very exciting initiative that we’re doing. This is the time now to plan,” Mr Farquharson said.

Over 45 companies will be present at Saturday’s job fair, including some nine hotels and other various companies, such as Baha Mar, Atlantis, Blue Lagoon, Ocean Club, Commonwealth Brewery, SMG construction, Cavalier cruise line, Disney cruise line, various banks, Sbarro, John Bull, Wendy’s, Kentucky, Bamboo Shack, and other businesses in all sectors, said Mr Farquharson.