Officials of the Urban Renewal Programme said yesterday they are focused on trying to find employment for people in the community who need it most, and reported that 33 residents of Bains Town and Grants Town now have full time jobs as a result of a recent job fair.
More than 600 people applied for jobs, according to officer in charge of the Bains Town and Grants Town Urban Renewal office, Inspector Anthony Rolle.
He said unemployment was recognized as one of the single most important issues among residents officials spoke to over the past few months.
He said even before the job fair was held earlier this month, participating companies agreed to hire at least one person each.
One company hired more than 10 people, Rolle said.
Some of the companies that participated in the job fair and provided jobs were Woodside Landscaping, Frank Hanna Contract Cleaning Company, Bahamas Food Services and Bay Street Garage Limited.
"Those companies have delivered on their promise and they will seek to hire more persons from this community," officer in charge of the Urban Renewal program Superintendent Stephen Dean said.
He added that the job fair exemplifies what Urban Renewal is all about.
Rolle said that companies are still in the process of interviewing prospective employees.
Brian Young, 25, a father of one, said this is the start of a new beginning.
Young began working at WEMCO Security, a private security and collections firm, just over three weeks ago.
"I'll now be able to take care of the things I'm supposed to, take care of my family and stand on my own," he said.
"I have a son and I'll know be able to support him."
Another of those residents is Janet Frazer, who was hired by Tripoint Communications, following a four-year long job search.
"I'm so excited and ready to work in sales and marketing," she said.
"I will now be able to fulfill certain financial obligations."
The government has listed unemployment as an ongoing challenge for the country.
The latest unemployment survey conducted in May, which provides information on the labor force as it existed during the reference period of April 23 to April 29, 2012, reflects that unemployment in The Bahamas dropped from 15.9 percent to 14.7 percent.
Rolle said Urban Renewal officials plan to hold job fairs in other communities in the months to come.

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