Got skills? Competition set to highlight best of the best

Jamaica has long built a solid reputation for dominating international athletics. Now, that victorious spirit is spreading to skilled arts and technologies. From October 5-7, HEART Trust/NTA will showcase professional skills at the WorldSkills Jamaica National Skills Competition.

After two years of eliminations, 350 entrants and 160 coaches, competitors will vie to represent Jamaica at the biennial WorldSkills International Competition in London, in October 2011. A total of 53 countries are set to participate in that event.

The talent at what is often called the Skills Olympics is drawn from HEART Trust/NTA institutions, high schools and several from industry.

The opening ceremony takes place at the National Indoor Sports Centre, October 5, at 6:30 p.m., and the competition runs October 6 and 7 at the University of Technology, in Papine, St Andrew.

"The energy is already high," said Jacqueline Wallder, project manager for WorldSkills Jamaica.

"We are encouraging the private sector to attend in great numbers. Competitors at the National Skills Competition bring expertise and good training to business and will impact the economy positively. In many countries, the WorldSkills banner is proudly displayed at the workplace."

Prestigious competition

For the last eight years, thousands of talented young Jamaicans have participated in the National Skills Competition for a chance to represent the nation in the world's most prestigious vocational skills competition. Jamaica competed in WorldSKills International Competition in 2003 in St Gallen, Switzerland; 2005 in Helsinki, Finland; 2007 in Shizouka, Japan and 2009 in Calgary, Canada.

Jamaica is the first Caribbean nation to become a member of the WorldSkills International organisation. This year, the nation marks another first in the region when it hosts the WorldSkills International General Assembly. At its deliberations in Kingston, the board of directors, technical and official delegates are expected to approve the creation of a WorldSkills Foundation to advance the WorldSkills cause globally and attract more recognition and support for the biennial skills competition.

Chef Brian Lumley, who competed in WorldSkills Jamaica's National Skills Competition in 2006, where he was selected to represent Jamaica in food preparation in Shinouka, Japan the next year, said the whole experience was priceless.

"I learned and absorbed techniques and knowledge from competitors here and the best in the world," said Lumley.

"It showed me what the world expects from the best, and this pushed me to take initiative and step up my game."

Marlon Maulsby, who also went to Japan, competing in web design, is another National Skills Competition star. He is a coach at this year's event, following his selection as a coach for web design with the WorldSkills Jamaica team to Rio De Janiero, Brazil last March.

He is also a facilitator at the General Assembly's Youth Forum. This comprises past champions who will look at future strategies for WorldSkills International.