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NTA Star Award Recipients Laud Programme a Success
By The National Training Agency
Sep 24, 2015 - 11:10:01 AM

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Hon. D. Shane Gibson, Minister of Labour and National Insurance with responsibility for the Public Service, along with National Training Agency Executive Director Agatha Marcelle, presented a Star Award to ten trainees of the National Training Agency fourth cohort for their outstanding performance in their relevant programme during the agency’s recent graduation ceremony. (NTA Photo/Bianca Bethel- Sawyer)

Nassau, Bahamas - The National Training Agency programme is being lauded by several beneficiaries for enabling them to excel in their chosen endeavor.

After fourteen week of hard work, 186 trainees of the fourth cohort of the National Training Agency (NTA) completed their journey in the NTA relevant programmes. The journey that officially came to an end on September 17th was celebrated during the graduation ceremony held at the Holy Trinity, Activities Centre.

Now in its third year, the agency offers free of charge well developed 14-week programmes that are designed to enhance workplace readiness skills for 16 to 26-year-old Bahamians who want to increase their employability and gain real world job training skills.

Eight of the ten trainees who received a Star Award for outstanding performance in their programmes expressed their appreciation of the programmes’ contribution to their career development.

Kacelano Oliver, Ryan McIntosh, Jentezen Deal, Thekeitha Pinder, Alicia Bain, Kelmore Barr, Davon Hamilton and Justin Joseph all spoke glowingly of how the agency helped them to reposition their lives, after initially encountering challenges.

Oliver, who described himself as once being a troubled youth, said he was unable to graduate from high school because of his “rebellious behavior.”

“I was rebelling against everyone. I gave up on school and my track and field dreams and did not graduate high school,” he said.

Not content to remain a troubled person, and determined to advance his skill set and life, Oliver says after having a child he decided that he had to advance himself, and that is when he enrolled in the NTA, Butler Service programme.

“The NTA turned my life around. It changed the way I think, my mentality, the way I do things. I now strive for perfection,” he said. “I was never a punctual person; I was from job to job because I was so angry, but it was the training and knowledge I received in the programme that allowed me to change all of that.”

McIntosh, who won the Star Award for the Food Preparation programme, thanked the NTA for the opportunity calling it his “golden ticket.”

“I wasn’t professional at all. The NTA turned me into a professional person. The programme showed me how to be diligent in my endeavors and how to remain focus,” he says.

Meanwhile, 18- year old Deal had a hunger and desire to further advance himself and was introduced to the NTA programme, while attending a youth meeting at church.

“I learned how to become a man, how to put a head on my body. To focus on my goals,” Deal says. “The agency opened the door for me to learn about Boat Safety and Maintenance for free.”

Allied Healthcare, Star Award recipient, Pinder, says she always dreamed about working in the Healthcare Field, however after completing a few months in college, she was forced to discontinue her studies, “because of financial difficulties.”

“My aunt told me about the NTA, and I immediately saw it as an opportunity to continue my studies in my field for free. At first I was a shy person, but after enrolling in the programme, the training I received gave me the needed confidence to succeed in my career,” she says.

When asked, these alumni say they now encourage their peers to enroll in the agency.

“It is such a good programme to help push young people further in life. It gives you the skills you need to succeed on any job,” Customer Service Star Award recipient, Bain said.

Star Award recipient for QuickBooks, Barr agrees with Bain.

 “It gives you hands-on experience. From the beginning you are taught how to dress, present your resume and how to have a good attitude on any job,” she says. “Plus, during skills training you get the hands on real world training needed to succeed in your chosen programme.”

Trainees of this cohort have gained working knowledge of Food & Beverage Service, Butler Service, Food Preparation, Housekeeping, Allied Healthcare (Patient Care Assistance), Auto Service & Care, Boating Safety and Maintenance, and QuickBooks.

Hamilton received the Star Award for the Housekeeping Programme and Joseph for the Food & Beverage Service programme.

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