‘Women go past men’

Carl Lewis, Director of Community Development, is of the view that women have overtaken men in several areas of the workplace and may soon replace them in industries. He noted that women were leading the march in acquiring new job skills and even on the academic front. Lewis made these observations yesterday while speaking at an achievement day exhibition at the Adult Education Centre, La Fantasie Road, St Ann’s, Port-of-Spain, organised by the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs.   

Throughout the country the ministry has been teaching citizens a variety of skills aimed at making them employable. Lewis noted that mostly women were responding to these programmes. Senator Joan Yuille Williams, the line minister, announced that Cabinet had taken a decision to reactivate the Export Trading Company, which will export the products that come from these entrepreneurs. The minister said there was an increasing demand for the Skills Training Programme and recalled that in 2002 the number of persons registered for the programme, was 8,903 with some 6,915 trainees graduating. In 2003, 9,676 persons sought entry with 8,413 graduating. This year 11,090 registered with 9,209 graduating.  

She disclosed that two new programmes were to be added to the package. One is the Retirees/Adolescents Partnership Programme (RAPP) which will bring together retirees and young persons of school age in relationships intended to provide them with mentors as well as the sharing of experiences and knowledge. The second is the Community Skills Bank project which is expected to be launched before the end of the year. The bank will be a repository of information on skilled, unemployed persons seeking to become employed. Also addressing the gathering was Phillip Ramdass, supervisor for St George West, and the vote of thanks was given by Ann Marie Noel. There were 25 graduating classes in skills such as tiling, fabric design, woodwork, small appliance repair, book binding, lingerie construction, PVC upholstery, beauty culture and many more.