Eighty-nine complete
WIFOL programmes
~ Receive certificates at Graduation ceremony ~
PHILIPSBURG--Windward Islands Federation of Labour (WIFOL) wrapped up its annual training programme Thursday night by presenting certificates to 89 workers and youngsters who had successfully completed one or more courses this year.
Of the 89 graduates, 33 completed computer courses and 56 completed professional certification courses in areas such as supervisory skills, room attendant, bartending and waiter/waitress. Many of the workers who took the professional training programme also took the computer programmes, some of them learning to use a computer for the very first time. “Some also hadn’t seen a classroom for (many) years,” said WIFOL President Theophilus Thompson.
The training is executed by the union’s training arm Caribbean Institute for Social Education Foundation (CIFSEF) with the support of the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA).
The programme got off to a rocky start with technical glitches during the entertainment segment. However, Thompson said that had been just part of the hurdles the union had to cross as it continued to produce trained workers.
Thompson said each of those who graduated had spent at least three days or nights at the WIFOL Building on Walter Nisbeth Road to soak in information from the courses.
He said it was necessary to train workers continuously. “In the past, as unions, our approach to accomplish workers rights had taken a different angle, but we realised that as the times change our angle must change as well,” Thompson said.
He said workers must be trained and educated as St. Maarten went into its new status.
