In spite of inclement weather conditions, more than 400 Clarendon South East residents attended their Member of Parliament Pearnel Charles Jr’s career fair at the New Bowens Community Centre in the parish.

This is the second staging of a career fair hosted by Charles Jr since the start of the year and is one in a series of career fairs aimed at fostering economic growth and job creation in the constituency.

The job fair saw interviews being conducted through Sutherland Global, Domino’s, Nations Choice and Chancellor Insurance Agency while assessments were being done by the HEART NSTA Trust and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security for internships.

Additionally, the Ministry of Health and Wellness was on location proving screening and testing for the attendees.

Noting that he was pleased with the turn out despite the rain, Charles Jr said: “We are focused on providing opportunities to empower you to change your life. Those who have come, despite the rain, despite the mud, despite everybody saying that it must be postponed, what it tells me is that in Jamaica we have young people and old people who are determined to look for better and what they want is an opportunity, a nudge, a help and we put together this career fair with our partners because we simply want to provide an opportunity for you.”

Meanwhile, Zeco Brown, Clarendon Parish Manager at HEART NSTA Trust, who brought remarks at the event, called for Jamaicans to turn to HEART for training and guidance where they needed it.

“TVET is a cure. If you don’t have any money, TVET is a cure. If you want job, TVET is a cure. If you want access to something greater, TVET can fix that too. We want everyone here today to capitalize on the opportunities. When you go into your interview, put your best foot or face forward. Do the best that you can do, and if you don’t get through today, if you don’t get the chance to open an account at NCB, if you don’t get the thing that you wanted from RADA, if you don’t get what you wanted from the Ministry of Labour, I am saying to you that you can get it tomorrow,” Brown said.

“Keep on knocking until you reach where you want to go and we want to give you the assurance that the HEART NSTA Trust supports you. We stand with you, we are by your side, if ever you feel discouraged, if you don’t know what profession you want to be a part of, you can come over to the HEART NSTA Trust,” he continued.

Heather Mills, who attended the fair with hopes of securing a job, expressed her gratitude to her MP saying, “I want to commend the MP for this great initiative. There are so many job opportunities here and I really want to commend him for it.”

The career fair was also supported by the Social Development Commission, the Ministry of Education and Youth, the National Council of Drug Abuse, the National Housing Trust, The Jamaica 4H Clubs, the Tax Administration of Jamaica, the Registrar General’s Department, and the Jamaica Constabulary Force.