THE HONOURABLE MINISTER FOR YOUTH AND SPORTS
MR LAISENIA TUITUBOU
Address at the Community Youth Career’s Expo at Warwick Hotel, on Wednesday 18th January, 2016 at 10.00am.
• General manager Warwick Fiji;
• Invited guests and stakeholders;
• Youth, families and friends;
• Ladies and Gentlemen
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Good morning and Cola vina’.
First of all, allow me to thank the organisers of this timely expo for the invitation extended to my office. I regard it is an honour and a privilege to address the trustees of our nation, the youth of Fiji, wherever they may be.
This Community Youth Career’s Expo is a welcomed gesture envisioned by Warwick Hotels and Resorts as a means to bring tertiary institutions and trade schools to communities in this vicinity of Korolevu and neighbouring areas.
I understand that the aim of this Career’s Expo is to assist schools and institutions in the enrolment process and raise the awareness campaigns to assist in succession planning for tradespeople capable of working in the tourism industry.
As the expo was initiated to create awareness for both youth and their parents to gain knowledge of suitable career opportunities in trade jobs that are in demand for various industries and not just the Tourism industry, I urge you to make full use of this opportunity to dwell on your prospect for the future beyond secondary school and unemployment.
Given that this expo is for youth in the districts of Korolevu-i-wai and Komave, with youths from Namada village through to Namatakula village being invited to attend, it offers the best available opportunity to link youths directly with some of their options for a potential future.
This Community Youth Career’s Expo comes at the right time as there is a lack of qualified tradespeople in the local job market. There is a widening gap between people pursuing white collar jobs and those opting to take up a trade. The Fijian Government is committed and has made it a priority to raise the image of Technical Vocational Education Training in the country as we hope to entice young men and women into acquiring trade skills.
The development of young people is a priority for our Government. We know that investing in you is the best investment we can make in our country’s future.
Your success will be our country’s success.
It is this striving for success that outlines the National Youth Policy. Through this policy, Government, the private sector, labour, youth organisations and civil society must collaborate so that our youth may reach their potential.
The National Youth Policy notes that our young people do not need hand-outs but instead be provided with a hand-up.
And that is what this gathering is about – providing opportunities. Opportunities for community youths, parents, schools, community leaders, resorts and stakeholders to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes for all involved. For schools, the opportunities to directly network with community youths and showcase what the schools have to offer for every youth; for parents, the opportunity to be better informed and interact with their children’s future schools and be better advised; for community leaders, the opportunity to engage with youths; for resorts, the opportunity to engage with their potential future employees and network with schools, parents and students; for stakeholders, to provide career guidance to youth and participate in information systems and programs.
The motive of the expo is also about working together to build better lives for the young people of this country through education.
You are the champions of your own development and authors of your own destiny.
We are gathered here today to introduce some of the many opportunities that exist for youth locally.
You should leave here with a better understanding of the scarce and critical skills that we need to be more competitive and efficient and to grow our economy.
Work hard, be patient and surround yourself with positive influences.
Today is a unique opportunity for you to take control of your future.
In conclusion, in the words of American civil rights leader Malcolm X: “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare today.”
It is now my pleasure, to declare the Community Youth Career’s Expo open.
Vinaka vakalevu.