East Trinidad Youth To Benefit from New State Of The Art Skills Training Centre

Young people in East Trinidad will soon have access to greater opportunities to further their education and employment potential with the construction of a Multi Purpose Skills Development Centre in their area. At the Sod Turning Ceremony for the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service's flagship Youth Development Centre in La Horquetta, Minister of Youth Development and National Service and Member of Parliament for La Horquetta/Talparo, Foster Cummings, said Government plans to build more facilities across the country. "It is the first of its kind in the country. We do have existing Youth Centres, but this, of course, what you see behind me, this image is the first of its kind in that it is going to be our first modern, fully-equipped Youth Development Centre, non-residential." Minister Cummings said he was glad the first facility is being constructed in La Horquetta. He added that beside the training programmes there would be a recording studio at the East location. "We also have some sporting arrangements included in this facility. We have an entrepreneurship component. We're going to have a line of small shops available to our barbers, our nail techs, you name it. Those of you interested in retail and so forth, we will have that facility here available as well." CARICOM Youth Ambassador for Tobago, Luke James Trimm, highlighted the importance of the initiative to the youth. "This is where future leaders will emerge, ready to take Trinidad and Tobago to greater heights. Investing in youth is not just an act of goodwill, it is a necessity for the sustainability of our society. Together we can ensure that the La Horquetta Youth Development Centre becomes a beacon of hope, progress, and transformation." This project is a collaborative effort with the Ministry and the Rural Development Company, an agency of the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government. The project contractor is Ricky Ragoonanan Limited.