By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemdia.net
THE minister responsible for immigration yesterday urged the private sector to stop complaining over work permits and instead help the Government tackle skills and training deficiencies within the Bahamian workforce.
Calling for a public and private sector partnership on the issue, Fred Mitchell expressed concern that some of the middle and low-end jobs set to come on stream at the $2.6 billion Baha Mar project could be given to foreigners. The project is set to generate 7,000 direct new jobs.
Speaking on the controversial work permit issue at a press conference yesterday, Mr Mitchell said: “The interesting thing about all the commentary about this change of policy is that people haven’t read it. I think they are just framing up their arguments on headlines they see in the newspaper and dashing off before considering rationally what their responses are to it.
“The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) was elected last year on the slogan ‘Bahamians first’, and the question is what part of that don’t these people understand? That would seem to be simple. The Government has to carry out its mandate.”
Mr Mitchell added: “I told the employers in Grand Bahama that they have a stake in making sure this country succeeds, otherwise their business goes down if we fail. Every business in this country has a stake to make this succeed.
“The policy is what it has always been, that Bahamians have the first call on any job in the country, and it is only when that skill is not available in this country that a work permit will be allowed. That’s the rule, and it will be followed as long as I’m sitting in this seat.”
Mr Mitchell added that while many in the business community have argued that all of the necessary skills cannot be found in the Bahamian labour force, companies have a responsibility to ensure their labour is trained.
“Each business has a responsibility to do that. You are not going to get the work permits unless you bring in an understudy and train them to do that,” said Mr Mitchell.
Mr Mitchell expressed concern that Baha Mar, with its 7,000 jobs to be made available come December 2014, make look to bring in expatriates to work in its hotels. “We are particularly worried, since there are 7,000 jobs said to be coming at Baha Mar, and if we don’t address this issue of training they will fix their mouths to come to the Department of Immigration talking about work permits for bar tenders, housekeepers and labourers in the hotel sector, and that’s going to be a tough sell, for this minister anyway,” he added.
“Get the training programme going. We are not going to have these kids sitting on the side of the street watching people working at Baha Mar while they’re talking about how they are going to get work permits for housekeepers and labourers.”
Comments
banker 11 years, 9 months ago
As someone who has hired school leavers, many of them are untrainable because they lack basic literacy and math skills. I hired a receptionist and immediately received complaints from customers saying that they couldn't understand her strong Bahamian accent and asked me to hire someone who spoke the Queen's English. I hired another young man, and he asked for his vacation pay up front. I laugh when I hear that I should train Bahamians for my work permit holders. Bahamians do not have the basic skills to be trained. They need a lot of remedial schooling to even compete at higher levels.
The education system must be improved to turn out literate, functional, well educated young men and women, and that is not happening. Until then, the best jobs with be done by foreigners with work permits or young Bahamians who have been educated off-island and have chosen to return.
John 11 years, 9 months ago
Americans do not speak the Queens English and many of them have a more difficult time understanding a British accent than they do a Bahamian, whose accent is somewhat textured. What happens if you had a business in Jamaica or haiti even? get real! To say that a Bahamian guy asked for his vacation pay up front is laughable. To say that he didn't know he was entitled to vacation (and you kept it from him) is more believable. We have to watch imposters in this country trying to belittle Bahamians to carry out their own hidden agendas.
concernedcitizen 11 years, 9 months ago
your a riot bro , i,m a fifty one year old bahamian and i can,t understand these kids coming out of our 300 million a year babysitting centers we call schools ,,,,we are not the israelites my brother
Puzzled 11 years, 9 months ago
Well said Banker!
The minister should get together with his cabinet colleagues to work out how to upgrade the education system that seems to think that D's and E's are satisfactory exam results.
The product of this system is a youth that has the Bahamian 'entitlement' chant down pat and does not realise that employment is a 2 way street, maybe there is a way of paying them on a results basis especially in the service industries.
I agree that there is a large majority who may not be untrainable but are certainly unwilling to learn. There are training programs at all the leading hotels and Minister, tell me that you get high end service consistently at all of the locations.
This lack of suitable employees starts with the government and in the Bahamian home.Just look at our 1/4 miler as a role model for our youth.
wave 11 years, 9 months ago
Hey Freddy, you can put lipstick on a pig but at the end of the day, it’s still just a pig! Bahamians’ do not want those types of jobs, they feel it’s beneath them. Everyone who voted for these fools should realise that the only other country that tells it’s people who to hire is North Korea. Still can’t believe that you allow this man to run around the world and speak on behalf of the Bahamas.
wave 11 years, 9 months ago
Why do Bahamians’ feel that, they their relatives or friends can leave the Bahamas and get a work visa anywhere else in the world but don’t allow anyone else get a visa in the Bahamas?
Stameko 11 years, 9 months ago
It may be partially explained by the fact that it appears the Minister has sent virtually his entire career in Government and politics where mediocrity and lack of training is rife and has never run a business in his life.
concernedcitizen 11 years, 9 months ago
this is strictly manna for the masses ears ,all the medium to big investers will get all the permits they need,,,,,,
JohnDoe 11 years, 9 months ago
It would appear that a disturbing pattern has developed whereby senior members of our government, including the PM himself, have uttered negative statements intending I can only presume to embarrass the private sector and foreign investors and then very shortly thereafter asking the same private sector or foreign investors to work with and partner with the government. This approach is immature, baffling and self-defeating and gives the very strong impression that this government is making this stuff up as they go along without an overriding vision or plan. Mr. Mitchell’s first statement about work permits was nonsensical and impractical and every statement after that from him and his colleagues has been equally perplexing. Mr. Mitchell, if you are sincerely looking for a partner to “tackle skills and training deficiencies within the Bahamian workforce”, I would respectfully suggest that you have totally gone about it the wrong way!
SP 11 years, 9 months ago
As an unbiased politically neutral nationalist, I applaud and totally agree with Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell. He is on point and absolutely correct that public and private sector partnerships on this issue is exactly what is needed. And long overdue as well!
An overseas exchange training program is badly needed to effectively resolve this issue.
Bahamians must be allowed to "live and work at hands on, eye level” to truly learn what is expected of them. Foreign exposure should be provided in all industries so as to cultivate required skills and attitudes in our people.
Unquestionably the basic educational system in the Bahamas needs upgrading in all areas, however; sufficient qualified individuals have graduated at the upper echelon over the years and continue to do so annually that are more than qualified to fill all positions given the appropriate exposure and training to what is required and equivalent monetary motivation.
This “exposure based training” is commensurate to what international banks, hotels and any numbers of businesses practice globally and must be extended to Bahamians as well.
As a self made successful Bahamian entrepreneur, I refuse to accept that Bahamians are any less trainable than any other nationality.
To add insult to injury in many cases Bahamians are used to train foreign replacements who receive better salaries, housing allowances, vehicles, gas mileage compensations, private education for children and other perks while the Bahamian counterpart is underpaid and marginalized at every turn.
Why and how the hell would an individual endeavor to excel under such apartheid conditions? I certainly would not!
Bahamians are successfully functioning at top management positions in many countries, but are consistently blocked out at home by discriminatory locals and foreigners alike with biased personal agendas.
Outstanding posture Mr. Mitchell, I and all right thinking Bahamians will support you to hell and back!
concernedcitizen 11 years, 8 months ago
your not unbiased ,,,,this is just honey for the undereducated masses ears ,,the medium and big investers will get all the permits they need ,,,geez sp you fall for all emotive political crap ,,didn,t PGC just say he brought into a Canadian to look at the mold in his office ,didn,t he pay two foriegn companies to advise on the gambling issues ,,,this is mana for your xenophopic ears ,,nothing more ,nothing less ,,
Collin 11 years, 9 months ago
SP, your statements are laughable at best and you sound most definitely like a PLP talking head. There are certain phrases you use that are a dead give away.
There is nothing in Hon. Mitchel statements that you can gather what you put forward - nothing! Further, I am an entrepeneur and not one who receives any help assistance from a rich family member or connected politician. It has become increasingly expensive to operate a business in the Bahamas. Partly, because of ridiculous electricity cost, but also due to labour cost that is both on the more expensive end and highly unproductive.
I too believe that we have an immensely talented people and we can achieve great things. However, that is not the culture of the Bahamas. It is our culture to seek to find a way to either do enough to keep the job or spend great effort seeking to 'flam' as if we are working.
Hon. Mitchel's statements were thoughtless and now worsened by the arrogant follow up by him, despite other Ministers seeking to soften it. It is showing clear disregard for good business sense and the development of a competitive country.
We in our country must begin to take the development of our country more seriously and understand the dynamics that lie there in. Otherwise the inefficiency in the work place, poorly educated populace and lack of discipline and poorly socialized people will further erode away the GOOD life we presently have.
This is definitely where all RIGHT THINKING people should be (By the way PLP apologist that is such a stupid phrase - I use it in jest).
SP 11 years, 9 months ago
I am pleased to have provided you a laugh for the day! However, your preconceived narraow minded perception and interpretation of what you read requires much work.
You and a few others that hold the country hostage by overcharging for everything to support lavish life styles have deemed yourselves the only ones with intelligence and properly developed culture and work ethics in the country. You people are stuck in a 1965 time warp continuum.
To reiterate just to make sure you begin geting the point, Mr. Mitchell is on the right track and the overwhelming majority of Bahamians whether FNM, PLP or DNA supporters are standing with him.
concernedcitizen 11 years, 8 months ago
you fall for all politically emotive talk meant for the undereducated masses ,,big and medium investers will get all the permits they need ,,this is the PLPS stock and trade to get elected ,they scream "bad foriegner,bad whitey " and all the undereducated rush to the polls to mark there x ..Freddy knows we need DFI and the investors will get there permits ,,thats why Rolle back tracked so fast to calm the investers fears ,,what the PLP does is called makeing a straw man for the masses to rally againts ,,hilter did it too ,,it works you fell for it ,,PGC was coming down to Exuma to straigthen it out and send the foriegn managers home ,,guess what B STEWART told him hes not making money and the teifin is outrageous w/o his mangers he will close shop ,,not another word from PGC ,,JUST THE GOV IS WORKING WITH HIM ,,WISE UP
John 11 years, 9 months ago
Part of the problem with growing and sustaining the Bahamian economy is that there are too many leakages in the (economic ) system. If a Multi-national company comes to the Bahamas, brings foreign labor and foreign material and foreing supplies, then exports all its profits back to its home country, then where is the benefit to the Bahamas or to Bahamians.? If you come to this country to take advantage of our natural resources then at least some of our workers should benefit. Once companies wanting to invest in the Bahamas are made aware that their firs tpool of workers must be from Bahamians who are available and quallified, then the work permit and immigration laws should reflect and enforce that policy.
SP 11 years, 9 months ago
@ Collin...I am pleased to have provided you a laugh for the day! However, your preconceived narraow minded perception and interpretation of what you read requires much work.
You and a few others that hold the country hostage by overcharging for everything to support lavish life styles have deemed yourselves the only ones with intelligence and properly developed culture and work ethics in the country. You people are stuck in a 1965 time warp continuum.
To reiterate just to make sure you begin geting the point, Mr. Mitchell is on the right track and the overwhelming majority of Bahamians whether FNM, PLP or DNA supporters are standing with him.
Ironvelvet 11 years, 9 months ago
We need to face facts as a people. As quite a few of you have mentioned above, our nation is UNDEREDUCATED! Not only are we undereducated, but it is compounded with an attitude that they should have/deserve to have everything that an education and hardwork affords.
The reason why the Bahamas has done so well, and by that I mean became independent, and became a majority rule country, is because the poor/have nots made sure that they got an education. Education is the only vehicle out of poverty. Many of the doctors, lawyers, politicians, accountants, teachers, professors in this town that have experienced success many times over were prior residents of the "over the hill" communities. Many of them coming from single parent, substance abuse homes, and homes where the mom/dad was a waiter, maid and the like.
I find it deplorable to think that I must ask a business owner to pay 2 people to do 1 job (the person who knows what they are doing and the understudy being paid to learn and producing an environment where no profit will become of it). It is not the job of the employer to hire someone without skills applicable for the job to train them, that's why advertisements with qualifications needs and why resumes and references are required.
Also ironic, is Mr. Christie and co. asking to institute a "national training program" that is supposed to last 1 year....sounds a lot to me like the 52 week job program, created and executed by the FNM,....something that the PLP was staunchly against that we as a country, apparently and according to the PLP, could not afford.
Many businesses that participated in the 52 week job program stated that many of the workers were lazy, drama creating, late to work, unproductive, etc. Many didn't show up for work for weeks, but came to pick up their check.
If Bahamians want the job, go and get qualified for it. Many of them would die before they got their GEDs, or some other technical training, but yet they want their MP to find them a JOB. We need accountability and we need better education.
concernedcitizen 11 years, 9 months ago
you hit the nail on the head ,there are other countries in our region competeing for the same DFI dollar with a less arogant and more willing work force ,,and thats not even considering when Cuba opens
concernedcitizen 11 years, 9 months ago
really Fred is talking for the undereducated masses , the medium and large investers will get all the permits they need ,,THEY KNOW IT AND FLY AWAY FREDDY KNOW IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!
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