A group of protesters made their way to the front of the stage as PM Hugh Shearer addressed a group of youth at the National Arena. However, Shearer told security forces to let them be and continued his address.

PUBLISHED WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1971

Through full use of education, training opportunities…

Qualify for careers, PM urges youths

THE PRIME MINISTER, the Rt Hon Hugh Shearer, yesterday advised the youth of Jamaica to take full advantage of the opportunities for training and education being provided in order to qualify themselves for careers created by development taking place in the country.

He also urged that they further qualify themselves for promotion and advancement that would inevitably result from the expansion and development of businesses and organizations: and to be prepared to start at the bottom and position themselves for such advancement.

Addressing the company of young people in the National Arena yesterday morning before declaring open the Careers Day Exhibition during Youth Development Agency Week. Mr Shearer said there was at present a tremendous surge of interest in education and training.

Nation-building

He listed various programmes run by the public and private sectors in various fields and sought the assistance of parents and guardians in urging young people to take advantage of the training opportunities.

“It is by exploiting these opportunities that young Jamaicans will be able to translate resolutions of aims and petitions of needs into real achievements and participate effectively in our nation-building efforts,” the prime minister said.

He congratulated the YDA and the exhibitors.

As soon as the prime minister began his address a group of young people moved towards the platform bearing placards mainly decrying the fact that thousands of Jamaicans were denied the right to vote who had attained the age of 21 as far back as 1969.

Attempts by the security forces to remove the demonstrators ceased when Mr Shearer signalled to them to desist and continued speaking.

Know-how

Another speaker was the Minister of Youth and Community Development, the Hon Allan Douglas. He said many young people were applying for jobs without the necessary ability or skill. Because of this, “Government is determined to try and do everything possible to put the young people of this country in a position to acquire the necessary skills, know-how, knowledge and experience so that they can go out and fill positions and take their pace as citizens building Jamaica on the right lines.”

He urged those present to view the displays which might help them decide on the career they would follow.

Government was placing emphasis on the training of youth and evidence of that could be seen from some of the exhibits, Mr Douglas said.

Presiding at the opening exercise was the Minister of State for Youth and Community Development, Senator the Hon Hector Wynter, who welcomed the gathering. He said the purpose of the exhibition was to arouse interest in the types of careers available in the country.

Displays

Displays depicting career opportunities and in some cases training opportunities were mounted by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Jamaica Library Service, the Jamaica Secretaries Association, the Jamaica Telephone Company, Desnoes Geddes Limited, Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation, Barclay’s Bank, the Prisons Department, the Jamaica Hotel School, the Police Department and Duff’s Business College.

The vote of thanks was moved by Mr Owen Batchelor, acting director of the Youth Development Agency.

The theme of YDA Week is “Youth in Service”.

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