WESTERN BUREAU:
AS PART of its drive to increase employment and training opportunities for inner-city residents, Sandals Montego Bay has added eight more persons to its Start Programme, which has to date trained 40 persons for placement in the local hospitality industry.
"The move to increase the number of trainees is based on our commitment to creating opportunities for our neighbours," Debbi-Lyn Ellis, Training Manager, told The Gleaner. "Our trainees are drawn from Flankers and Whitehouse and each community is grateful for the chance to prepare for jobs in the hotel sector."
According to the training manager, Sandals Montego Bay is awaiting accreditation from the HEART Trust/NTA. Training is offered in housekeeping, bartending, maintenance, diving instruction, plumbing and front desk.
Kemar Haughton, 22, of Flankers, was employed in February as a waiter and has high praises for his employers.
"Sandals provided me with the chance to do something with what would normally be idle hands," Mr. Haughton said. "People in my community see me and other trainees as important and look up to us because we are making something of ourselves."
The Start Programme began December 5 last year and has since employed ten persons to take up positions at Sandals Montego Bay, in water sports, kitchen, dining room and housekeeping.
