TVET class of 2012 at their Graduation yesterday June 20, 2012. Photo: Javon Liburd/VINO

Attending the graduation ceremony of the Technical Vocational Educational Training (TVET) students on June 20, 2012, the Minister suggested that a Butcher programme be introduced to the list of training the students receive. “I want them to set up a butcher programme. It is hard to find people of this profession in the VI.”

The Minister stated that as a result of this, he is currently looking for a butcher to put in his business place.

He added that butchers are well paid, but it is a skilled job that needs skilled persons of the VI. “I always have to bring people in to be butchers in One Mart and they are very well paid. This is an area that is lacking in terms of people being interested. It is a skilled job and the persons of the VI need to look into it.”

Hon. Vanterpool added that the students of the TVET programme, having completed courses in different technical areas, his Ministry will try to accommodate some of them and “even in the private sector”.

“In One Mart we are currently looking for someone who fixes refrigerators and I am currently speaking to two graduates. We are checking to see if they have any jobs already or if they are interested in being an apprentice with the current refrigeration person who is there at One Mart.”

Minister Vanterpool said those areas are very crucial areas. “I can’t find a refrigeration personnel or a plumber in the Virgin Islands very easily, so the areas and courses that are trained in the programme, we fully support them.”