Addressing the first wave of participants during the orientation seminar of the multi-million-dollar National Job Readiness and Training Program, held yesterday at the Sheraton Resort on Cable Beach, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham acknowledged that the need for jobs in The Bahamas is great, and he encouraged participants to take full advantage of the opportunity as current job prospects are slim.
The program is expected to employ thousands of Bahamians over the next year, but even with the initiative, Ingraham pointed out that thousands of Bahamians will remain on the unemployment line.
"The number of applicants seeking to participate in this program demonstrates that our economy, like economies throughout the world, is severely affected by one of the worse global economic crisis in a century.  Unemployment is far, far too high in our country," Ingraham said.
According to government officials, 12,800 Bahamians signed up for the program.  However, the $25 million program is only designed to accommodate 3,000 people.
"The government cannot hire all unemployed persons.  My life would be so much easier if we could.  Indeed, the government's finances are stretched.  You will be aware of projects which my government has undertaken creating thousands of new jobs in the construction and allied services sector.  Still, there is a limit to the burden which tax payers are able to afford."
He continued, "That is why in addition to providing some stimulus to job creation, we are also taking advantage of opportunities for shorter term and temporary placements, the PM added."
About 400 young Bahamians showed up at the Sheraton to participate in the first orientation program.  In Grand Bahama, where the participants viewed the orientation in New Providence via simulcast, 240 people were selected for the first phase.
Ingraham revealed that in New Providence 200 people will be trained at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI), beginning in the current semester.
The government will pay the training cost and provide a stipend to participants. The same will happen in Grand Bahama, Ingraham said.
The orientation, which is the first phase of the program, will last two weeks and will provide a smooth transition into the workplace.
The orientation course is designed to develop soft skills including: Work ethics, a positive attitude, aptitude, reliability, punctuality, problem solving, social interaction, team work and time management.
Participants will be paid $210 per week while in training over the next year.
"At the end of your engagement, if you are not employed permanently, you will be eligible to receive an unemployment benefit from NIB (National Insurance Board)," Ingraham said.
"While this Job Readiness and Training Program is designed to last only 52 weeks, we seek to encourage an environment where many, if not all of the participants can find long-term employment, primarily in the private sector.  It is our hope and expectation that a general improvement in the nation's business and economic climate will assist in this regard."
Ingraham said he expects the job market to grow in the next 12 to 18 months as the economy slowly recovers.
He added that the core priority of the government is to enhance the skills and job readiness of unemployed persons.  The program's aims are: Ensuring that job seekers have job readiness skills, upgrading and enhancing skills; making it possible for job seekers to acquire new skills, and improving the marketability of the workforce of The Bahamas.
Minister of Labour Dion Foulkes said the program is the most "comprehensive jobs and skills initiative in the history of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas".
The remaining selected participants will begin their cycles in the coming weeks.
Several participants at the orientation commended the government for introducing the program.
Nineteen-year-old Javaughn Rolle, who recently graduated from high school, said he is grateful that the government is giving him the opportunity to be trained.
Rolle said he wants to study information technology.
"This is a good thing that the government is doing.  I'm happy to be a part of it," he said.
Kevin Black, 18, said he wants to be an electrician.  Black said he's prepared to study hard and take full advantage of the opportunity given.
The program is designed to prepare unemployed Bahamians for entry into the labor market.  One hundred and fifty businesses have registered to participate in the program as employers.

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