Paradise Fisheries hosts Fisheries Training for at-risk youths to Create Industry

Wed, Apr 1st 2015, 01:39 PM

Protecting the Bahamian human capital by teaching at-risk youths to be fishermen is a new approach to creating youth employment in food security. About 20 young trainees signed up for the pilot project to learn boating, diving, and fishing in order to be certified through the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) and the National Training Agency (NTA).

The Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources joined forces with the Ministry of Youth, Sports, & Culture to create training and employment in the Fisheries Industry by teaching at-risk youths how to fish to feed themselves and the nation, and announced the venture in the conference room of Paradise Fisheries on Monday.

Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources the Hon. V. Alfred Gray told the young people: “We’ve always had problems finding young people, who are willing to be fishermen and I can assure you that you are a cadre of young people who the Government will invest in and try to support to make sure that the owners of fishing boats will soon no longer be able to say they cannot find Bahamian fishermen who are willing to work or who are willing to stay on the boats.”

“So I congratulate you and wish all of you well in your endeavours. I commit myself to this programme and I am sure the Government will do all it can to ensure this program succeeds. God bless you all. Thank you very much.”

In addition, the Minister of Youth, Sports & Culture the Hon. Dr. Daniel Johnson added to Minister Gray’s affirmation of the Government’s commitment by setting the tone for leadership in the Fisheries Industry. Dr. Johnson congratulated everyone there and said it’s a community effort as well.

Dr. Johnson said the young people were becoming exposed to ‘the wealth of nations’ – ownership, which promotes industry and sustainable work, with Paradise Fisheries as an example of enterprise.

In his address he explained there are rules of engagement when dealing with boats and the ocean and that lots of men lost everything by getting involved with the fishing industry and not knowing the rules.

Dr. Johnson said it’s their job to get these young men and women ready.

“If you don’t learn the rules right, you do yourself in and you don’t come back,” said Dr. Johnson.

“It’s just like the airline industry, you have to train to be a pilot. You have to train if you’re going to fix a plane. The same thing with this industry, you have to train yourself. You have to expose yourself to the best people in the business, if you’re going to be successful in this industry.”

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