The Labour Department will be re-structuring and introducing programmes to assist Antiguan and Barbudan nationals who are without jobs.

This revelation was made by Minister of National Security Dr. Errol Cort and according to him the department wants to ensure that Antiguan and Barbudan nationals get the opportunity to access jobs that are available.

Minister Cort said the department recently conducted a private security training with a prominent business Special Security Services and a number of nationals, so far, have obtained jobs in the security industry through this programme.

“Since then, the sector has employed a number of local persons after they have been successfully trained in the joint training programme between government security forces and George Purcell of special security services.”

Cort further indicated that the government has also approached the hotel industry to introduce a similar programme with management in that industry.

“I have had a very useful meeting with members of the hotel association and some managers and they have agreed to work with the department to ensure that nationals are taken care of.”
Once the hotels on the island are developed, the Labour Department would be contacted and a meeting will be held to decide how nationals could be trained and placed in these senior positions within the industry.

“The hotels have been very responsive and they are fully onboard with what we are trying to achieve; at the end of the day all our qualified and competent nationals must be placed in the highest jobs in the hotel industry that is the goal.”

The minister further re-iterated that nationals must be motivated and brought to a level that they could be exposed to outside training.