The lack of employment for locals and an apparent disconnect between the education system and the job market again came up during Thursday’s Central Committee of Parliament meeting with the Anti-Poverty Platform. An often-heard complaint is that most well-paying jobs and management positions go to foreigners.
This is due in part to the need for qualified personnel whothat have the necessary experience, although the latter is – in fairness – hard to get without being able to find work. Last year Finance Minister Richard Gibson even warned employers of a “revolution” if nothing is done to address this issue.
Providing suitable candidates from the island for high-level positions in the tourism economy obviously continues to be a challenge. One of the solutions is to offer a variety of study and training options that allows more persons to prepare themselves for professions in demand.
For this reason today’s story about St. Maarten students successfully defending their thesis during an exam by Inter-Continental University of the Caribbean (ICUC) for a Bachelor of Science degree in Business at the SXM Hospitality Educational Institute is good news. Of course, it regards only two persons who are actually from Jamaica and St. Eustatius, but they are setting an example of what’s possible for others to follow.
In addition, the programme entails spending part of each year abroad, which can certainly be eye-opening and assist in preparing for a career. Enhancing knowledge and practical skills remains an important tool to combat poverty.
