Social Development Minister Speaks At Job Fair For Retrenched Workers

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (GISL) --  The following is a speech delivered by the Minister of Social Development and Family Affairs, the Honourable Cherrie-Ann Crichlow-Cockburn at the Empowerment and Job Fair for Retrenched Workers at the National Energy Skills Centre, Pt. Lisas, Couva. The event which took place on April 4, 2016 was themed 'Turning Adversity into Opportunity'.

It is an honour to be here today, and to bring greetings as a key partner and stakeholder, at this very important multi-sectorial initiative, which was spearheaded by the Ministry of Labour and Small Enterprise Development.

This Empowerment Job Fair and Exhibition which targets persons who have been retrenched and all other persons who are currently unemployed, is perfectly aligned to the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services’  pursuit of helping, empowering and transforming the lives of vulnerable citizens in Trinidad and Tobago.

In fact, the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services envisions today’s exercise as the ideal platform for achieving our vision of leading in the enhancement of lives, with emphasis on the vulnerable, through a network of integrated, effective and accessible social services.

Just over one month ago, the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services was asked to lead on the development of a Social Mitigation Planto cushion the impact of the economic downturn on vulnerable groups in our country.

At present a technical team from the Ministry is working towards crafting this document which will assist the Government in charting a course to assist persons who have been directly affected by the existing situation.

This Empowerment and Job Fair, ladies and gentlemen therefore allows us to, among other things, gauge what is needed and how these needs may be met.

The activity also presents an opportunity to package some of our Ministry’s existing programmes to reduce the burden of unemployment and despair to those directly affected.

Some of the services that are being presented by the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services include:

• Social Support and Counselling through the Family Services Division of the Ministry;
•  Advice and guidance on how to cope with and manage stress during challenging times – There will be seminars on this throughout the day;
•  Information on how persons may access our SEED grant as a route to becoming a small business owner. For those persons who may not be aware, the Sowing Empowerment through Entrepreneurial Development, (SEED) grant is aimed at empowering families to obtain access to tools and equipment to begin or expand their small businesses. Individuals are also supported through a multi-pronged system that provides training, education and mentorship with the aim of maximizing their potential for success.
• We are also providing information on how persons may access all other grants, as well as temporary relief via the Targeted Conditional Cash Transfer Programme also known as the TT Card;
• We are also presenting other general information on the programmes and services offered by the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services at the Ministry’s booth.

Ladies and Gentlemen, and in particular, those who have been retrenched, I want to share with you an old Japanese proverb which says “Fall seven times, stand up eight.”

Though you may be feeling a bit down given your current situation, I want you to know that today is the first step in your journey towards overcoming this particular challenge or situation.

I am told that there are several Employers and Employment Agencies present for you to explore the available opportunities. I encourage you to take full advantage of it.

In particular, the programmes and services at the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services are wide and varied, and they are designed to provide an indispensable safety net for the vulnerable, indigent and marginalized in society.

In closing, Ladies and gentle, I wish to re-emphasize how happy we are to partner with the Ministry of Labour and Small Enterprise Development.

Today is the day we begin to look through the eyes of each other for support, guidance and advice. Let us together be encouraged to grow bigger than our differences, and reach out to one another, as we turn adversity into opportunity and build a better Trinidad and Tobago.

I thank you.