One of the projects that is expected to provide on-island employment is the Ginn development.
“Our main thrust is to find jobs off island. The economy here is still not as robust as we anticipated or what it will eventually be, or what we would like,” Tyrone Gibson, assistant director of labour told The Bahama Journal.
Approximately, 1,500 persons are registered with the labour department’s employment exchange and some 300 new persons have registered since January 2006, according to Franclyn Johnson, employment exchange officer with the labour department.
“I get about 10 new persons a day, while I receive 20 calls daily from persons who have already registered and are checking on available jobs,” Mrs. Johnson revealed.
The island continues to be challenged by the number of available jobs to place job seekers.
The government’s employment exchange recorded 25 vacancies in January; 30 in February; 50 in March; and for April so far, 23. For the period beginning January 2005 to the end of the year, some 300 employers advertised vacancies with the exchange.
Mrs. Johnson said many of the 300 newcomers already registered in 2006 include young persons about to graduate. However, she said, “I don’t see very many jobs [for them].”
While officials talk about major developments slated for Grand Bahama and tout the potential, some twelfth graders on the island say they are not so optimistic about the future of the economy, and their future ability to find jobs.
During an interview with The Bahama Journal, five students from St. Georges High School in Grand Bahama voiced their concerns about the lackluster economy.
“The economy is going down. I feel it is primarily because the hotel in the [International] Bazaar closed down. That supported many jobs for Bahamian people,” Corderro Lloyd said.
Burke Bowe said, “I feel the economy of Grand Bahama has been stagnant since the hurricanes. I feel the government can do more to bolster the economy.”
Another student believes the economy could be more robust through individual efforts.
“I think the economy is in a slumber because I think we as Bahamians are not being as united as we should,” Tonya Bethel said.
“I feel even though the government could be the problem, I think we are lacking in other areas because we are just not co-operating [with each other].”
Mr. Lloyd added, “We as Bahamian people, I can’t lie, we’re lazy and that’s the same thing as working together. We as a people need to also help ourselves.”
Meanwhile, officials admit that future projects generating major employment in Grand Bahama are still in the distance.
The $3.7 billion Ginn Development in West End is expected to employ some 4,000 permanent workers once the operation is up and running.
Grand Bahamians are also expected to benefit from other projects around The Bahamas, according to government officials.
Minister of Financial Services and Investments Vincent Peet said recently at a two-day conference hosted by The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce that the government expects to employ some 24,000 Bahamians by the time all the foreign investment projects approved by the Christie Administration are completed.
Mr. Gibson revealed that two job fairs were recently held in Grand Bahama, when some Grand Bahamians were able to secure jobs on other islands.
“The department in recent times has been assisting in finding jobs for Grand Bahama residents in other areas of the country, such as in Exuma. We recently did a job fair for the casino in Emerald Bay and we also conducted a recruitment exercise on Phase 3 at Atlantis,” Mr. Gibson said.
A search is ongoing to locate persons to fill positions at Atlantis in areas such as sheet metal mechanics, welding, installation, piping, ductwork and electronic control systems.
Mrs. Johnson said that eight welders secured jobs on the Atlantis project in New Providence, while some 14 persons were hired on the Emerald Bay Casino development.
Mr. Gibson said the department hopes to soon implement a database to provide an interactive medium of communication between persons seeking employment and potential employers.
“Persons can come to the department and input their resumes and certain information, which will be fed directly to a prospective employer and that employer can respond by the same medium to the person,” Mr. Gibson explained.
Mr. Gibson said there are persons currently in training in anticipation of this facility and a software program is being “tweaked” to meet specific operations in the Bahamas.
He recommends that Grand Bahamians who are seeking employment should contact the Department of Labour.
“Persons should register and make themselves known, who they are and what their skills are and we will try to match them up with a prospective employer locally,” he said.
Mr. Gibson also encouraged Grand Bahamians to consider the opportunities ongoing around the Bahamas.
“Based on [Grand Bahamians’] willingness to relocate to other areas of the country, we will happy to assist them with that,” he said.
“As recent as this morning, I was speaking to Bimini and they were looking for a number of people to train in certain areas for the upcoming Bimini Bay project. Our employment exchange will be dealing with that in short order.”
By: Daphne McIntosh, The Bahama Journal
