Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Served! HLSCC Culinary Arts Centre officially declared open

- 9 students pursuing Associate's Degree in Culinary Arts at new centre
The HLSCC Culinary Arts Centre has been officially declared open. Photo:VINO
Officials pose for a photo after unveiling the plaque for the HLSCC Culinary Arts Centre (L-R Hon. Myron V. Walwyn, Chef Neil Cline, Dr Karl Dawson, Dr Charles Wheatley). Photo: VINO
Officials pose for a photo after unveiling the plaque for the HLSCC Culinary Arts Centre (L-R Hon. Myron V. Walwyn, Chef Neil Cline, Dr Karl Dawson, Dr Charles Wheatley). Photo: VINO
Chef Cline poses with some of the students enrolled for the current semester. Photo:VINO
Chef Cline poses with some of the students enrolled for the current semester. Photo:VINO
A section of the kitchen area of the HLSCC Culinary Arts Centre. Photo: VINO
A section of the kitchen area of the HLSCC Culinary Arts Centre. Photo: VINO
PARAQUITA BAY, Tortola, VI – Prior to hustling to the House of Assembly yesterday October 9, 2012, Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith, OBE, made his way to Paraquita Bay for the official hand over of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) Culinary Arts Centre.

In his remarks, Dr. Smith stated he continued to applaud the HLSCC’s ongoing hospitality programme, which helps to shape the career path of young people. Students, he explained, “develop and acquire cooking and entrepreneurial skills as they learn about international cuisine and cultures.”

Premier Smith, who was accompanied by Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn, further stated that the project was funded through parallel co-financing between the 7th European Development Fund and the Government of the Virgin Islands and supervised by his office.

Dr Smith said much was expected of the HLSCC and even more with the construction of the Culinary Arts Centre. "I look forward to what the H.L Stoutt Community College will further do, in shaping not only the technical skills of students, but the products and quality of service we provide.”

With this new facility, the Premier explained, HLSCC can now increase its capacity for quality training in food preparation, presentation and service. Chefs will further learn techniques for menu planning, and recipe development, for example.

President of HLSCC Dr. Karl Dawson Dr Dawson explained that the offerings of the Centre’s programme will include an Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts, which he suspects will be the route by which many young persons will enter the field.

“In fact,” he related, “some nine persons began classes in that degree programme during this current semester.”

He continued, “The programme also calls for the offering of certificate courses aimed at upgrading the skills and certifying professionals already in the industry. This would include persons working in the territory’s restaurants and other institutions offering food service but also, perhaps not as obviously, those involved in food service aboard our charter yachts. Not to be left out are individuals in the community who simply want to learn to cook or as is popularly said, to step up their game in the kitchen. We will have opportunities for you as well. Direct services to tourists are also included in our plans.”

The HLSCC President noted that the Programme of the Culinary Arts Centre would move forward based on some key pillars.

Firstly, the programme development and review will be guided by stakeholders in the local industry through the use of advisory committees. These individuals are expected to help make curricular choices suited to the current needs of the industry and help to gain feedback on students’ and graduates’ performances when in the field.

Secondly, he added, international standards will be used in the curriculum where possible. In this instance, the HLSCC had gained approval to offer various offerings in Culinary Arts by City and Guilds International, a long-standing world leader in the certification of technical and vocational qualifications.

Thirdly, a hands-on approach to education and training, which manifests itself in the way the courses are facilitated in the classroom and the use of internships for real-world experiences.

Following the simple ceremony, attendees were given a guided tour of the facility by Chef Neil Cline.

10 Responses to “Served! HLSCC Culinary Arts Centre officially declared open ”

  • vip (10/10/2012, 09:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    great visions of the vip
  • ooooo (10/10/2012, 09:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    bad timing....this was purposely done so that the vip canidates couldn't attend...what a plot
  • facts man (10/10/2012, 09:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    never knew dr smith was an obe????
  • ... (10/10/2012, 10:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why can't we pave our driveways instead of this stupid gravel that always has to be replaced. So tackey.
  • Where they Boys (10/10/2012, 12:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Love it! Glad this is up and running.

    I do have to comment on why there are no young men posing as current students? So many complain of unemployment and as stated there are a multitude of cooking jobs in the BVI at hotels, restaurants and aboard charter boats. The youth should be jumping on the bandwagon to obtain the skills required to get the type of jobs that are in abundance in the BVI.
    • reggie (12/10/2012, 10:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      actually there is only one young man enrolled and he is hiding between the last 2 young ladies on the far left look closely and you would see him
  • shelia (10/10/2012, 14:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What happen to prospect reef that the NDP bought? Waste of tax payers $$$$ again….
  • Confucius (10/10/2012, 17:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Good news!

    Now sell Prospect Reef to the highest bidder. Our government needs the funds and that property is too valuable to let it slip even further into decay while costing the taxpayers for the upkeep.

    WHY on Earth doesn't anyone in governemnt EVER mention what is being done with Prospect Reef Resort? I want to know what it is costing us on a yearly basis and WHY absolutely NOTHING was ever done with it?
  • staff (10/10/2012, 23:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    hope ayo aint give yellow no more jobs for he work for PWD


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.