Town Hall Meeting Held Over Training Plan

July 24, 2014

Last night [July 23] a Town Hall Meeting was hosted to discuss the National Training Plan, with Minister of Home Affairs Michael Fahy saying “the importance of undertaking national planning for a sustainable workforce in Bermuda is an urgent priority for the Government..”

National Training Board Chairman Jeff Sousa delivers a summary presentation:

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The National Training Plan covers topics such as the number of jobs available in all of Bermuda’s economic sectors and highlights the existing requirements and pathways that will enable Bermudians to pursue these opportunities.

Minister Fahy said, “Thank you all for coming to this Town Hall meeting this evening to discuss what I feel is an extremely important document for the future of our country – it’s called ‘The National Training Plan’ which is essentially a roadmap to ensuring our people are prepared for the right industries going into the future.

“In 2013, soon after I was appointed Minister of Home Affairs, I tasked the occupational advisory groups that are part of the National Training Board to develop, manage and ultimately implement a National Training Plan.

“The Board consists of twenty members from key industries bringing together representatives from existing training bodies and associations under one umbrella.

National Training Plan subcommittee representatives [left to right] Collin Simmons [Sales and Services], Pamela Quarterly [Hotels and Hospitality], William Graham-Welton [Financial and Insurance], Patrick Caton [Development and Infrastructure].

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“The importance of undertaking national planning for a sustainable workforce in Bermuda is an urgent priority for the Government, as based on the unemployment data; we must work to “up-skill” the people of Bermuda in an effort to improve Bermuda’s competitive position in the delivery of products and services to both local and global markets.

“With that background information in mind, I am extremely pleased to stand before you this evening to discuss the creation of Bermuda’s first ever National Training Plan. We view this as a plan aimed at strengthening Bermuda’s competitive position in our local and global markets.

“The Board is developing the Plan in two parts. This decision was based on a desire for continuing stakeholder input and involvement and ensuring adequate time is allowed for further consultation and input before moving forward with our implementation strategy.

“Part I of the Plan, which will be shared with you tonight, is an analysis of the economic sectors that the Board focused on with the goal of understanding the current job market and determining how best to move Bermuda forward in this regard. This approach will enable Bermuda to become more self-sufficient in the supply of human resources to support and sustain our economy and more importantly, position us for economic growth.

Minister Fahy addresses the hall at last night’s meeting.

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“The six sub-committees of the Board met with public and private stakeholders, conducted interviews, surveys and convened focus groups. We started with a sector-by-sector analysis of the current status of employment.

“Part II will focus on the development and implementation of training and entry level positions across industry sectors as well as identifying the resources required to do so – and, where appropriate, policy considerations.

“Ultimately we see this Plan as a tool to fulfill our goal of ensuring that Bermuda moves to a place of reducing our reliance on overseas labour because we will have carefully considered the future needs of the economy and developed our people accordingly.

“This document has been issued with the full expectation that it is a “growing, living document” that will develop over time as new opportunities and workforce needs arise. And that is why you input is so very crucial.

“I hope that you find tonight’s presentation informative and that you leave here with a sound understanding of the plan’s goals and findings which you will then take back and share with your friends and family members.

“Finally, as Bermuda moves to reposition itself as a top destination for business it is my hope that the National Training Plan will be seen as the standard bearer for the coordination and forward planning of the training and development needs of Bermuda’s workforce.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the team at the Department of Workforce Development, the members of the National Training Board as well as the Chairman of the National Training Board, Mr. Jeff Sousa, and the Deputy Chairman, Mr. Vince Ingham for dedicating their time and effort to compiling this document.

“We are very pleased with Part I and we are encouraged at the fact that it is a step in the right direction.”

The full National Training Plan Part I can be read below [PDF here]:

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Comments (2)

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  1. 32n64w says:

    While the OBA are working for all Bermudians the PLP are more concerned with protecting and preserving the few.

  2. 32n64w says:

    It’s a sad commentary on our current economic situation that the PLP talking heads have refrained from commenting on this initiative. Ultimately their absence proves their concerns are not with Bermudians but themselves. Power and politics trump opportunity and collective advancement every time for the PLP.

    PLP – betraying Bermudians since 1998, one unemployed voter at a time.

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