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| The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance - John F. Kennedy |
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School Leavers Attend Job Preparation Workshop |
| Publishing date: 04.07.2008 09:18 |
School leavers from the Fifth Form of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School turned up on Wednesday June 25 in large numbers for the 2008 two-day Job Preparation Workshop at the House of Chandeliers.
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School Leavers at the 2008 Fifth Form Job Seminar at the House of Chandeliers
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Chief Minister and Minister of Home Affairs, Osbourne Fleming, told the young people that many years ago he and other Anguillians had to travel abroad after leaving school to find employment. He was now happy that he, as Chief Minister, was part of a development process that had ensured the current wide and profitable job market on the island where there is plenty jobs available.
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School Leavers at the 2008 Fifth Form Job Seminar at the House of Chandeliers
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“My main goal was to ensure that the country was at a point whereby we would have gainful employment for everyone who lives here,” he told the applauding school leavers. “I am pleased to say that Anguilla has reached that point where there is employment for all.” He informed them that in the next year or less there would be hundreds of jobs in the tourism industry and various branches of the public and private sectors. “At present there are vacancies in Government for Teachers, Nurses, Customs and Immigration Officers, Policemen, Firemen and for Prison Officers and in the private sector, mostly in the tourism industry, in the next two years, there will be a need for over 2000 workers,” Mr. Fleming stated.
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School Leavers at the 2008 Fifth Form Job Seminar at the House of Chandeliers
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He noted that a number of the school leavers would be going abroad to study and advised them that Government was offering some 58 scholarships which were still available and that they should make enquiries at the Department of Public Administration. He said there were also opportunities to study at the Community College Development Unit and at the University Centre for Continuing Education in Anguilla.
Labour Commissioner in the Chief Minister’s Ministry, Russell Reid, reminded the ALHCS that “these are challenging times with widespread uncertainty globally and by extension in the world of work – ranging from financial turmoil, soaring food and oil prices, economic downturn.”
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School Leavers at the 2008 Fifth Form Job Seminar at the House of Chandeliers
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He made the point that employers were not only looking at how many CXC subjects students had obtained. They were quick to hire and retain employees who possessed other qualities such as good work ethics, team-spirit, good inter-personal skills and self-motivation. Mr. Reid said that a group of experienced and qualified managers in the public and private sectors had been engaged to speak to the job seekers on various subjects related to the world of work and asked them to give those persons their full attention.
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School Leavers at the 2008 Fifth Form Job Seminar at the House of Chandeliers
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The feature address was delivered by Chief Executive Officer of the Health Authority of Anguilla, Ms Darlene Baptiste. She spoke on some of the preliminary requirements at the workplace and offered the young people various insights into the areas of concerns which potential employers normally look for.
“Leaving school is just the beginning of an exciting and adventurous career in your lives and I know that you are anxious to get started,” the health professional addressed the school leavers. “I would be remiss if I do not take this opportunity to ask you to look within yourselves and ask the question ‘What is my dream’? What can I do to make my country, my world a much better place?”
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L-R: Zulma Webster, CM Fleming, Mr. Russel Reid and Darlene Baptiste, CEO Health Authority
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Ms Baptiste stressed: “If Anguilla is to remain great, the dream of this generation and the generation to come must be great and that is why it is critical for you to be part of your dream.”
The opening ceremony was chaired by Senior Labour Officer, Zulma Webster. The Vote of Thanks was delivered by Corvel Fleming, one of the school leavers.
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