Youth Taught Life Lessons While on Job Fair Opportunity

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green gave advice to the youth of the country who are, this summer, engaged in a job fair for employment opportunities in the government sector.

 

Minister Floyd Green said have an attitude of respect, be willing to learn, be hardworking and distinguish yourselves in anything you do, and respective agencies are continuing to make sure they do all they can to secure youth participation at all levels in agriculture, mining and fisheries.

 

He said, “They are very passionate about this program. But this is the first year that we are expanding the program to have this initiative which is a job fair which is our way to try and ensure that when you come and work at the ministry that you leave with something, especially in terms of enhancing your personal development skills and I think it's a great idea. This is the first, so you are the first batch that will go through this and I know it will grow from strength to strength.”

 

The youth is getting an opportunity to be involved in farming. They needed encouragement and greater access to lands and it was provided by the government. With the interest of the young being realized, farming is being made more attractive than in previous years.

 

Putting unused lands into food production, over 20% of government-owned lands were set aside for youth farming. That move along with other interventions proving to encourage young people to see the sector as a viable career option which ensures food security for the nation.

 

Green said, “Not only will we give you access to land, we are going to ensure that you get land preparation free that we implement free inputs. So, if you want to plant onion, we give you the seeds free… and that we reduce your lease, your rent, for the first two years so that you have a two-year buffer to start your business.”

 

 

 

Permanent Secretary at the Ministry Dermon Luke Spence said, “We structured a framework in which we have summer program, internship program, attachment program. And so… somebody from wherever they are in the system from high school through to university can be engaged continuously with the ministry towards career decision and towards job engagement or job placement.”

 

Though a job fair took the opportunity to give some life lessons to the younger generation as they are being prepared for the world of work. They were encouraged to always have the right attitude when they secure a job, whether part-time or full-time, being humble and teachable.

 

Greens told the youth, “Some people come into a space extremely stubborn, with a strong mindset, very set in their ways. That's not going to work. You have to show a willingness to learn and to appreciate that in every assignment that you get is a chance to prove that you can do better no matter how small it is. Right? And then nothing beats hard work. So, you have to do the work, right? Sometimes I find that especially because in this era now it's so easy to get information, it's so easy to do things that we sometimes miss the concept of hard work. Right? Employers are looking for people who will show up and will go above and beyond and will get the work done.”