BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
OCT 2014
Caribbean Youth Has Spoken
W
hat
in
your
opinion should
be a key area of
focus for the Caribbean at
present?
I believe there’s a great
need to zero in on
boosting the employment
sector.
By G’nel K La Belle
generation exercises, meet one-on-one with relevant
business owners.
Career guidance – ensure students are sensitive to tertiary
education and career choice issues. They must learn how
to choose the right mix so that they are better positioned
to create the job they desire in the event finding a match
in the job market proves difficult.
What in your opinion are our challenges within the
Caribbean to achieving this relevant area?
Why do you see this area
as
relevant
to
the
Caribbean presently?
Many factors, but perhaps a key one is fear. The fear to
invest all you have (and go broke) to see your dreams
fulfilled later.
There’s an ever-evolving issue where job search is
concerned, especially for the younger demographic. It is
no dispute that we are nearing saturation particularly on
the supply side and I believe there are many untapped
solutions we can dig deeper into. We need to pay closer
attention to this critical area not only to lower
unemployment figures but to improve general standard of
living for now and for future generations, like myself.
Who do you think needs to get on board to ensure this
area is developed adequately?
What do you think can be done to enhance/develop/
market etc. this particular area?
Encourage innovative thinking and entrepreneurial
development among youth. Too often graduates leave
school without a creative game plan to achieve their
professional goals. Instead they tend to spend a bit too
much time stressing over the slow traditional job hunting
path. In the midst of this, I believe talents/skills used,
coupled with formal education training should
automatically come into play. A few creative short-term
ways that may help to develop an entrepreneurial spirit
are:
I’d say the educational system and its players with some
support from the private sector. At the end of the day,
each graduate - regardless of age - should understand that
the aim is to be employable and not merely employed.
And, to be employable one must know how to create
employment.
What role do you see yourself playing in aiding the
achievement of this particular area?
I have a zillion business ideas! One of which I have
already started on. With a bit more groundwork, I hope I
can assist and encourage other young persons to create
avenues to pursue their passions and ways to sustain
themselves.
P &