Skills Today, Jobs Tomorrow
Dear Sir
The ultimate goal of any society should be that its citizensare allowed to maximize their potential within their chosen field.In Cayman we are no different, we expect that our hard work willnot be in vain.
Whether you are a hotel/condominium maid, painter, mechanic, plumber,lawyer, waiter/waitress, nurse, bank teller, salesperson or businessowner, whatever you do, you should be given the opportunity tobe the best that you can be and you should strive towards thisgoal. You should be given the credit that you have earned andreap the benefits in terms of promotions and pay.
We all would agree that there is a dire need for Caymanians tobe equipped with the necessary skills to fill the jobs of tomorrow.It is widely accepted that a highly skilled and educated workforceis a key competitive advantage for any country but especiallyfor one where the economy is almost entirely service-based.
Educational and training initiatives must be in line with ourlong-term goals. Tourism and financial service companies (alongwith the ancillary industries such as retail stores, beauty salonsetc.) require varied skill levels from the junior clerk to themanaging director of a bank and the maintenance man to the generalmanager in a hotel.
A certain level of skill is required for every job under the sun.What must happen in Cayman is that our people develop the skillsthat businesses require in order that we continue to prosper.This requires forethought and planning in the education and traininginitiatives of the country.
I would hope that all companies recognize the importance of training.Government must create partnerships with the private sector toensure that proper training of Caymanians take place. I am speakingof all types of training, in every industry.
From general business etiquette, to secretarial diplomas, accountingdiplomas, waiter training, electrical certificates, dive mastercertification, heavy equipment operator certification, hotel/condohousekeeping, barber certification, hair/nail beautician certification,file management certification, electronic repairs, mutual fundadministration, trust administration etc., training is necessary.Ongoing training would of course have to take place on the job,and there should also be programs in place to facilitate this.
Such strategic skill investment would allow Caymanians to acquirea skill set that can be used by businesses and ensure that Caymaniansare proficient at whatever they do! The social implications ofsuch an effort must not be overlooked or discounted. Such trainingshould lead to a greater level of job satisfaction and feelingof self worth in the working population.
This in turn should lead to less stress on the marriage and familyunit generally, and create more functional households. After all,a country is only as strong as its weakest link.
Poor family life has been the downfall of many societies throughouthistory. Let us not forget that families generate the future employeesand entrepreneurs of this country, and therefore it is vital forthe family unit to be maintained intact.
Obviously, by looking at our current work permit profile, andgrowth rates over the last few years, we would be able to identifytrends and try to funnel high school graduates toward certainjobs/sectors. Here again we must adequately plan our future anda key element would be a national Training Strategy.
The training of prisoners must also form a part of this strategy.This would make the transition of rehabilitated offenders intomainstream society easier. We must not be too quick to write-offindividuals once they have gone to Northward. I feel that witha disciplined environment along with adequate rehabilitation programswe could reclaim many young lives in this country. If we do notmake an attempt at this then we will all pay a heavy price.
This price will be, housing them at Northward only to have themgraduate as hard-core criminals. We will also pay by being thevictims of crimes. Our reputation as a safe destination will alsocontinue to be jeopardized. This will inevitably have a negativeimpact on tourism that would lead us to not have the job thatwe trained for in the first place. In the end we would all lose.A strategy in relation to our prisoners is therefore also of fundamentalimportance.
Another key component of our National Training Program would bethe international training of our people in the more specializedprograms that cannot be offered locally. These would include trainingfor such professions as doctors, lawyers, certified accountants,general managers, engineers, architects etc.
Again in order to do this properly government must provide a roadmapof where we are headed and form partnerships with the privatesector where necessary to facilitate such programs. This trainingprogram will also have to be tied into a well thought out, comprehensiveimmigration policy (but that is a separate issue for another day).
We must start being visionary in Cayman and not dismiss ideasjust because they will not directly benefit us individually today.What we have to do is provide the blueprint that will make lifebetter for our children and grandchildren. We must provide a legacyof Godliness and stability for them.
We must put aside differences and move forward to create a Caymanthat is worthwhile passing on to future generations. Comprehensivetraining for relevant skills will facilitate the type of managedgrowth our Islands are in need of.
Rolston M. Anglin