Annotto Bay residents and others from surrounding communities in St Mary are benefiting from skills training in food preparation, which is designed to improve their employability.

The programme, which began in January of this year, is the collaborative effort of the Annotto Bay Methodist Church and the business community.

Louise O’Hara, co-ordinator of the training programme said 13 people were participating in the sessions, held on Thursday of each week at the Methodist Church Hall. Areas covered are meal and drink preparation, the making of preserves, as well as cake and pastry making.

Already, she said, the participants have learnt to prepare breadfruit drink, coconut bun, duckunoo, cho-cho and carrot fritters and sweet potato biscuits.

O’Hara said there were plans to introduce sewing as part of the training effort, noting that a sewing machine had been acquired, while crochet would also be introduced.

With the knowledge and skills gained, it is hoped that the participants would establish small business ventures in their communities, she said.

O’Hara lauded the business community for supporting the programme, citing the Jamaica National Building Society, which has provided well-needed equipment.

– JIS