Bahamians Should Be Concern About Lost Opportunities
BY KENDENO N. KNOWLES:
Bahamians should be concerned about the number of job opportunities being lost because of the country’s unqualified workforce, according to Free National Movement (FNM) Senator Michael Pintard.
He was making his contribution to the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) Bill debate in the upper chamber yesterday.
The senator said foreigners are constantly being brought in to take on thousands of local job opportunities – something he says Bahamians should be concerned about.
Mr. Pintard was referring to the 5,000 plus Chinese workers that Baha Mar Resort is planning to bring in for construction on the mega luxury resort property.
"It is with some distress that I heard recently the intention of one of the developments in The Bahamas to import a large number of foreign workers," Mr. Pintard said.
Baha Mar officials recently confirmed that the Chinese workers were being brought into the country in stages to carry out specialty work, which executives claim Bahamian workers are unable to carry out.
"At the time when Atlantis was in its early stages of its development the identical statement was made, which I also heard recently. [That statement by developers of the new resort property] pointed to the fact that there were not enough qualified Bahamians to populate the various positions," Mr. Pintard said.
"If this is the case then all of us have good reason to be concerned because the development pattern of this country is such that we must have seen additional developments such as the one coming on stream."
He questioned why there has not been anything done in order to prepare Bahamians to take advantage of these opportunities.
"I recall quite distinctly drywall courses being offered at BTVI in conjunction with Atlantis to create a cadre of workers in order to take advantage of the opportunity and any other subsequent opportunities," he said.
"Again, it is crucial that we never find ourselves in a similar position in the future. It is my hope that in the execution of what emerges from this bill that we put ourselves in a position where we carefully assess the emerging needs on the horizon in order to prepare our population to be the chief benefactor of these opportunities. BTVI must also continue to deepen its relationship with industry partners locally, nationally and internationally. Luckily this wonderful bill speaks specifically to this issue."
He continued: "It is important for us to train persons to populate all fields in technical and vocational areas, including the fields that others are claiming we do not have the requisite skills."
May 6, 2010
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A political blog about Bahamian politics in The Bahamas, Bahamian Politicans - and the entire Bahamas political lot. Bahamian Blogger Dennis Dames keeps you updated on the political news and views throughout the islands of The Bahamas without fear or favor. Bahamian Politicians and the Bahamian Political Arena: Updates one Post at a time on Bahamas Politics and Bahamas Politicans; and their local, regional and international policies and perspectives.