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| YES Programme Celebrates
First Anniversary |
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| YES Programme Secretariat
Manager, Leslie Connor (right) with assistant
hotel trades tutor Jasmine Isaac-Lake and hotel
trades tutor, Dominic Stevens |
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Federation's Prime Minister,
the Hon Dr Denzil Douglas, has congratulated the Youth
Empowerment through Skills (YES) Programme on its first
anniversary, with his personal commitment of the programme's
continuation as it endeavours to empower the youth.
Dr Douglas made the remarks Friday evening at the Royal
St. Kitts Hotel and Casino where he attended a dinner
hosted by the hotel trades students of the YES Programme
to mark the first anniversary the programme, which he
launched last year in a bid to stem joblessness and
idleness among the youth.
"I am delighted to extend the congratulations of
the government in the celebration of the one year anniversary
of the Youth Empowerment through Skills (YES) Programme
and to commend this evening's presentation by the hotel
trades class," observed the Prime Minister as he
delivered the feature address.
He told the guests who included the Governor General,
His Excellency Sir, Dr Cuthbert Sebastian, Minister
with responsibility for the YES Programme, Glenn Phillip,
and his Permanent Secretary, Lloyd Lazaar, that the
YES Programme has been of tremendous benefits to the
nearly 1500 young people who have so far been involved.
According to the Prime Minister, it was important to
commend the various tutors in the programme as well
as the many persons in the public and private sectors
who have been contributing guidance and experience to
the YES Programme participants.
He told the diners that while it was crucial to be reminded
of the relevance of the YES Programme, he pointed out
that initially it had many detractors, but through it
all, it had been able to achieve with pride and distinction
a number of strategic pointers, which he named as:
1: Introduced many young people to the world of work;
2: Enabled young people to acquire work related skills;
3: Created a greater sense of discipline and engendered
self-awareness; 4: Exposed their minds to productive
endeavours; 5: Planted the seeds for greater involvement
in the economy by being participants; and 6: Engendered
a sense of direction, value, and a higher purpose for
the lives of those who are participating as young people.
"Tonight, as the Prime Minister of this country,
I feel very proud that over the last twelve months we
have been able to impact the lives of nearly 1500 young
people," said Dr Douglas. "There were the
naysayers who said this programme cannot last for three,
six or even eight months. Tell them it has lasted for
twelve months and it is continuing."
The neatly attired hotel trades students, who had prepared
the dinner, along with the invited guests cheered when
the Prime Minister commented that after having been
treated to a most delicious meal by the same students
in September last year. He announced: "Tonight
I look forward again to my four course dinner that I
am sure all of us are waiting to taste."
Minister Glenn Phillip addressed the diners before the
meal was served, while general remarks were made by
manager of the YES Programme Secretariat, Leslie Connor.
Welcome remarks were offered by one of the hotel trades
tutors, Michael Guishard, and his colleague Dominic
Stevens gave the vote of thanks.
Also attending the anniversary dinner, which was chaired
by journalist and social commentator Larry Vaughan,
were advisor in the Ministry of International Transport
and Tourism, Cedric Liburd, First Vice President of
the St. Kitts and Nevis Trades and Labour Union, Sydney
Bridgewater, YES Programme's officials, June James,
Esinton Watts and Vaughn Edmeade. Bishop E. Williams
offered the invocation while YES Programme student and
former Kittitian idol participant, Ketura Liburd, rendered
the national anthem. |
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