President of the San Juan Business Association Abraham Ali says the country’s economic sector is suffering immensely due to a lack of foresight, innovative thinking and implementation. He was speaking at the St George West district of the Ministry of Community Development’s Community Education (Skills Training) Programme graduation ceremony at the Himalaya Club, Barataria, on Friday. “As it stands now our country is suffering immensely from the lack of foresight, innovative thinking and implementation within the economic sector,” Ali said. “It is a well known fact that the basic stimulus of a thriving economy derives from small and micro enterprises, which has the ability to create sustainable employment, as is evidenced in countries such as China, India, Brazil, Singapore and Hong Kong. It should also be noted that the development of the cottage industries is vital for the economic growth in T&T.” “This country has been dependent on its offshore resources such as oil and gas, which in actuality are diminishing commodities that have not generated sufficient jobs and also does not positively reflect upon the ratio of employment to GOP, hence the reason it is imperative to revitalise cottage industries.”
Minister of Community Development Winston “Gypsy” Peters, who was also present, said the Government had identified St George West as a new growth area, with a focus on real estate, agriculture, the creative industries and small and micro business development. He told the over 300 graduands that with the new skills they had acquired, they were well poised to take advantage of these emerging opportunities. Peters said the ministry’s community education and handicraft programme had long been an incubator for small and micro businesses and a springboard for many successful careers. The five-month skills training programmes offered by the ministry cover a wide range of areas, including: make-up artistry, nail art, jewelry making, auto electrical repair, cosmetology, African garment making, garment construction, linen and drapery, pillow making, growbox, ornamental plants, balloon art, PVC construction, upholstery, landscaping and tiling.
The next cycle for the CEP is set to begin in March 2014.