This follows the completion of a mandatory four-day Workforce Training Bootcamp for residents of Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke.

More than 200 residents particpated in the training which was held from September 9 to 13 at the H Lavity Stoutt Community College in Paraquita Bay on Tortola.

Premier Andrew Fahie said the idea behind the boot camp was to create an environment to introduce the participants to tools that would create a better work culture, maximize their success rate at their new jobs and securing level playing field where they all learned the same things at the same time.

“Each day more participants showed up … Each day more hands raised with questions. Each day more participants requested to know the contact information for the presenters so they could contact them for additional help. And each day, as they grew in confidence, some persons even openly asked the presenters for job availabilities in their companies. They learned how to seize the opportunity in one session, and they put what they learned into practice immediately.”

Ready for jobs

In the meantime, participants were given ‘completion certificates’ and are now ready for jobs, the Premier said.

“The Department of Labour & Workforce Development will start to send their résumés to the employers who have listed their jobs with the programme,” Premier Fahie said.

He added: “Interviews will start soonest and we expect that by the beginning of next week, if not sooner, the first set of participants will start new jobs and find careers. We hope for happy and successful matches.”

Don’t quit

Imparting some words of encouragement to the job seekers, Fahie said: “I want to encourage each person registered in the programme to remember that things will take time, so rest if you must, but don’t quit.”

He continued: “Your Government will not give up on you, so don’t give up on yourselves. This initiative is dear to my heart. With God’s help, I intend to go above and beyond the call to ensure that all of you are meaningfully employed!”

Meanwhile, the boot camp will be tackling the residents of Anegada via a virtual classroom, the Premier said.

“More information will come on that in the coming weeks,” he stated.