MOUNT CAREY, St James -- Twenty-eight residents from South St James who were jobless and unskilled up to six months ago are now qualified for employment in the hospitality industry having completed a HEART Trust/NTA- Kellingworth certificate course under the Community Training for Empowerment Programme (CTEP).

During last week's graduation ceremony at the Mount Carey Baptist Church, it was revealed that the programme -- conceptualised by South St James MP Derrick Kellier -- has rolled out over 600 graduates since its inception in 2004.

The 28 students represented exactly half of the original cohort who enrolled for the course last year.

They gained work experience at Wexford Court Hotel in Montego Bay, St James and the Grand Palladium Fiesta Hotel in Lucea, Hanover.

Their training, which ran for six months, included housekeeping, waitering, bartending, front-desk receptionist, conversational Spanish and sign language.

Kellier used his Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to pay half the cost of the classes -- held once per week inside the Mount Carey Baptist Church Hall -- while the students paid the balance.

President of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) Lloyd B Smith commended Kellier for his initiative and expressed the need for other MPs to follow suit.

"In today's Jamaica as you move around there are always persons who always ask for you to 'let off' something, but today you (graduates) are examples of not 'letting off' but teaching a man to fish," Smith said.

He promised to make representation to the MBCCI for financial assistance to the programme.

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