The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie attended a graduation ceremony on Monday for 139 participants who completed training at the National Training Agency Programme in Grand Bahama.

Mr Christie encouraged graduates to believe in themselves no matter what obstacles or struggles they face in life.

“The principle is you are going to get knocked down in life but you are not going to be measured by getting knocked down if you get back up,” he said.

Telling graduates about his hardships at age 14 when he was forced to leave school because he was told that he could not learn, Mr Christie said he did not give up and he was able to succeed academically.

Mr Christie said if he had listened to those persons, his life would have been different.

In Grand Bahama, some 170 participants enrolled in the first session of the NTA’s Mandatory Workforce Preparatory Programme. The second session is expected to begin in September.

Mr Christie told graduates to consider relocating to the Family Islands because various developments are occurring in the country that will create thousands of jobs.

“What is happening in the Bahamas…in places like Bimini there is substantial development going on and lots of Grand Bahamians have already found work,” he added.

He told graduates that developments are also expected in Grand Bahama where additional jobs will also come on stream.

Mr Christie stressed that the government is committed to providing opportunities for Bahamians for training and employment. He urged NTA officials to keep track of all graduates, especially those who are unable to obtain employment.

Labour and National Insurance Minister Shane Gibson was very pleased with the large number of graduates completing the programme.

He commended NTA for the work it is doing after opening in five short months. He stressed that the agency was implemented to assist and provide training for those Bahamians who have fallen through cracks in high school.

Mr Gibson reported that some 800 persons nationwide have already graduated through the NTA programme.