The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

THE National Training Agency’s first group of skills training interns were graduated yesterday as stakeholders pin early successes on increased private sector partnership.

Nineteen people completed the eight-week programme conducted by Diamonds International, according to NTA director Agatha Marcelle, who confirmed that the fine jewellery dealer has committed to hosting three programmes a year.

At least 12 interns will be hired by Diamonds International, according to Human Resources director Chynella Cunningham, who added that the company was ready to take on another set of 20.

“We have lots of ideas that we want to do here at Diamonds International,” said Ms Cunningham, “we have new businesses that we want to get involved with so we want to be ready.

“The way we recruit normally is through walk-ins and this process has eliminated us having to do a whole lot of vetting because the NTA has done it for us. We’re not concerned about who we’ve included in the class because we know the NTA has already done their checks and balances. We set out with the NTA a list criteria that was a prerequisite for hopefuls, and then we went down and did an interview.”

She encouraged “any of the vendors, retailers, anyone in business if they want to recruit persons who have already been vetted” then that was the way to go.

The experience gave interns, not only marketable skills, but also guidance for self fulfilment, according 28-year-old graduate Geoffrey King.

“It was definitely an opportunity, it’s really shed a lot of light on a few things,” Mr King said yesterday. “My mind set going in was that this is an opportunity to get a job, coming out, it’s more than just getting a job it’s what do you plan to do if you get the job, and if you don’t get the job. Where do you see yourself going regardless of the job, it was more of a life changing.”

Internship programmes at Sanpin Motors and Bahamas Bus & Truck will be completed at the end of the month, according to Ms Marcelle, who underscored the importance of increased partnership from the private sector.

“It’s very significant,” said Ms Marcelle, “for the private sector to buy in because a lot of these people we’re trying to train will work in the private sector and who better to train them than private sector partners, and that’s why we’ve gone the way that all of our skills training is provided by industry training providers. They know the industry they know what they want and they can help these young people.

“What is coming out,” she said, is that “we are very results orientated, we just want these young people to have the ability to show up at an employer’s door and say I have a little something I can offer you, so that they get a chance. I think coming out of that is what is going to make this a very successful venture for our nation.”