Article: Retooling in Crisis
Jamell Robinson
Retooling in Crisis
July 22nd, 2020 is the announced date for the reopening of our international borders and with it that the reopening of the remaining businesses that were closed due to our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We in the Turks and Caicos Islands have a unique opportunity to retool entire sections of industries over the next five weeks, but we must do so quickly. Through the Ministry of Border Control and spearheaded by the Labour Department, with support from the Office of Public Service Management and in partnership with the private sector, programs can be designed and executed to retool or enhance the skill set of every Turks and Caicos Islander whom is willing to participate.
We have both TCICC campuses, Grand Turk and Providenciales, along with numerous empty hotels with conference room facilities that can be used simultaneously to provide enough social distancing to execute any program. At present, all returning Beaches TCI staffers will undergo two weeks training ahead of the reopening of our borders. Why can’t such a similar training program be offered to other hospitality workers? More importantly, training can be carried out for any sector that is desirous to get people back to work.
The target groups should be the unemployed, under-employed (i.e. those who might be outside of their area of qualification), persons interested in improving their overall skill set, and especially persons who are on company succession plans.
While it might be late in the game, it is never too late to make a difference. Therefore, we must seize the opportunity to position Turks and Caicos Islanders as the preferred employee of choice coming out of this Pandemic.
Stay Blessed and Safe TCI
Jamell Robinson, PNP All Island Candidate