Media Release - Minister of Labour reaffirms the Government’s commitment to the development of young people at the OJT Division’s Trainee Leadership Development Series Graduation Ceremony
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago - Thursday 15 December, 2022
142 Trainees graduated from the On the Job Training Division’s Leadership Development Series (TLDS) through a partnership with Mr Jason Charles who is a certified Maxwell Leadership Facilitator/ Coach. This graduation ceremony was held on Tuesday, December 13th 2022, at the Cipriani College of Labour and Cooperative Studies under the theme ‘Becoming a Person of Influence.’
The objective of the TLDS was to empower participants to improve their interpersonal skills, build their confidence and provide them with the information that is needed to navigate the work environment to becoming no ordinary worker but “a person of influence”.
In his feature address, Minister of Labour, the Honourable Stephen Mc Clashie said “Sophisticated leadership development programmes develop a deeper, richer pipeline of talent, which is why the Government of Trinidad and Tobago remains committed to investing in the youth population to unlock the full potential of the talent pools at all levels.” Minister Mc Clashie reaffirmed Government’s commitment to the development of young people and to ensure that Trainees obtain practical workplace experience required to attain sustainable employment and contribute significantly to the workforce of Trinidad and Tobago.
The Minister of Labour also commended the Trainees for choosing to participate in the Trainee Leadership Development Series since it was a great step towards building their professional future. He further added that the right investment into their professional development plan will add credibility to their personal brand, thus increasing their marketability and employability for success in the world of work.
In her address, the Permanent Secretary (Ag.) Ms. Kevar Williams urged the Trainees to continue seeking and grasping opportunities, not only to make a difference in their lives but to also uplift the lives of others around them. She reiterated the Ministry’s, commitment to its stakeholders as it continues to lend its full support to initiatives coming out of the OJT Division. “Trainees are indeed a major priority thus the OJT Division works tirelessly to ensure that Trainees have a meaningful experience while on the OJT Programme that would aid their career growth and development.”
Director of the On-the-Job Training Division, Ms Joann David reinforced the Division’s goal to develop Trainees, not only through their certification and occupational areas but also through their holistic growth. “Their professional attitudes, their mental health and their personal and interpersonal skill. Having engaged our Training Providers in 2021, skills such as Communication, Innovativeness and Leadership was among the top skill employers were looking for in new hires. Employers were not solely focused on certification but on talent.”
The Training Development Series Graduation Ceremony recognised staff members of the OJT Division and Trainees who successfully completed twelve (12) weeks of virtual interactive sessions. These sessions were geared towards offering 250 Trainees the opportunity to discover and build their leadership capacity. However, the ceremony awarded the 142 Trainees who completed this course with 75% attendance. This initiative is yet another milestone achievement for the OJT Programme and one that brings a close to the calendar of events for the Programme’s 20th Anniversary. This Year was one worth celebrating since it summed up two decades of the Programme’s growth and achievements.
The Ministry of Labour is tasked with the responsibility to promote Decent Work and Sustainable Employment in Trinidad and Tobago and continues to implore employers in the Private Sector to partner with the OJT Programme to provide training and job opportunities to the many eager, intelligent and enthusiastic graduates of Trinidad and Tobago.
For further information, please contact the Corporate Communications Unit: Tel: 625-8478 Ext. 1211, 1208, 1203 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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