Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture, Youth, Sports and Community Development, Senator Oscar George, believes that more emphasis must be placed on skill trades in order to create a pathway to become more resilient entrepreneurs.
His comments came while delivering the featured address during the Dominica Youth Business Trust (DYBT) 2nd Annual Caterers Showcase recently held at the Prevo Cinemall Ball Room.
This showcase is yet another platform to recognize and celebrate the creativity of exceptional young entrepreneurs who are carving their own paths in the catering industry.
“I want to remind all of us here today that cultivating a productive skill is one of the ways that our young people can improve their standard of living and earn decent livelihoods,” he said. “We have to pay more emphasis on skill trades since skills can create a pathway to become more resilient entrepreneurs.”
George is of the view that in order to become sustainable and address the many global challenges present today young people have to adopt a positive mindset towards developing practical skills.
“If we can encourage young people to identify a particular skill, whatever skill it may be, whether electricals, whether catering, whatever it may be, I think that offers a wonderful opportunity for our young people,” he explained.
George continued, “Not everyone has the ability to do maths and to get an office job.”
As a matter of fact, George explained that many people with skills earn more money than some people who work in an office from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
“So we have to double up our efforts to attract young people into skills,” he advised.
Furthermore, George said he is confident that this Caterers Showcase will meet its objectives, leading to new partnerships, increased business opportunities and a brighter future for young caterers.
Meanwhile, he indicated that evidence has shown that there is a gradual increase in the number of persons relying on sourcing food services around the world.
“This along with the growing number of social events, rising preferences for diversity, customized menus and the changing lifestyles of individuals are all driving growth in the overall market,” he noted.
In fact, George pointed out that the global catering service market is expected to grow by 4.28 percent globally during the period 2025 to 2033.
“There will always be a demand for catering services,” he stated. “People have to eat, but the reality is that many people do not like to prepare foods, especially when preparing for large numbers of persons.”
George added, “So, there is a real opportunity in the catering industry and I want to urge our young entrepreneurs to take that opportunity and maximize it.”
He urged all the caterers present at the event to be mindful that it is not just an opportunity for showcasing culinary expertise, but it’s also about building connections, networking and establishing themselves as trusted and reliable caterers.
However, George told caterers that in order to do so they must be self-motivated, self-disciplined, innovative and driven.
“And I always say when I speak, when referring to catering, we have to stop this thing of having only one caterer being used for so many activities, especially in the public sector,” he remarked. “There are many young caterers who have similar potential to produce and we have to diversify and get our young caterers on board for our many activities in both the private and public sector.”
He further urged caterers to recognize the significance of this moment.
“See this opportunity to showcase not only your culinary skills, but also your determination and passion for the art of catering,” George encouraged.
By availing themselves of these opportunities, George believes these caterers are not only promoting their business, but are also contributing to the growth of the catering industry and the economic development of Dominica.
To the public and private sector entities, George encouraged them to support these young entrepreneurs by considering them for their next upcoming event.
“By doing so, you are not just investing in their business, but also in the future of Dominica’s culinary landscape,” he said.
George also took the opportunity to commend the DYBT in taking the lead in organizing yet another successful Caterers Showcase.
The people of old were master craftsmen,fishermen,carpenters and masons,they did not depend on government to learn.The famous inventors did not wait and depend on government to achieve,the worked hard Today we are living off their inventions.UWP and their acolytes are too lazy.The Chinese came to Dominica yesterday,today they have employed hundreds of black Dominicans.Even the Haitians are employing Dominicans,while the blue id10ts sit on the street corners drinking rum,smoking wee,begging and complaining, too damn lazy to work and they are encouraged not to work by a do nothing party.Those blue people are so shameless foreigners come to their country,they give their land to them,then the foreigners employ them on their land and sell things to them grown on their own land.Then they turn around and blame government for their stupidity.People paid to learn technical skills at the technical wing of the Dominica Grammar School.Who taught who before the Chinese came?Like DA was empty land.
MINISTER OF SPORTS WHO NEVER PLAYED SPORTS TELLING US ABOUT SKILLS WHICH HE HAS NONE .LET US HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY LIKE YOU ,LET PM PULL HIS STRINGS TO SEND US CHEVENING IN THE UK AND HAVE A JOB WAITING FOR US .DONT COLONIZE OPPORTUNITY AND TELL US ABOUT SKILLS
Waw. This is why I say people need to educate themselves before they just jump on here to comment. Oscar George was my student. He is a prolific cricketer who played throughout school and went on through the ranks to represent his country.
JUST DO IT NUH!!!!!!!
dat is what dlp saying after being in office for de past 24 years.
if I was 16 years old when dlp came in office in 2000………..is now you want to reach out with something to help me build my future?
20 of these years Skerrit is leader of de country
WHAT A WASTE
you wanna clean Skerrit record?
This is typical of the Roosevelt-led mal-administration. It is all about grandstanding to dupe the public into thinking favourably about this deadbeat regime. This presentation by the senator is all empty rhetoric.
Sweet lies and empty rhetoric are no substitute for action. Enough with the lip service. Make the promised goals actionable.
Senator Oscar George, you and your colleagues actions are so loud I can’t hear you went you speak. Always remember this. People may doubt what you say , but they will believe what you say.
May wii. After all you killed it? Were people going to learn skills if they weren’t lucky to go to high school and technical college? How important are skills when Chinese building all government buildings, no one to understudy them, no planning involvement and nothing? Not even their trucks they letting us drive because they driving their trucks, operating their backhoes and heavy equipment, painting, doing their electrical etc so what skills you taking about? Stupes tan
what skill trade Oscar George talking about, 24 years after he helped and encouraged Skerrit in his corruption, that destroyed every bit of Skills Dominicans had. Way the hell skills nou? skills to drink alcohol, smoke weed, party every damn day? Skerrit is on record saying Dominicans cannot work and don’t want to work and now you talking skills. As a fellow villager I am so ashamed of you man because I knew you to be a talented young man who represented Dominica in cricket and now to see you helping Skerrit destroy cricket, playing fields and other skills is damn shameful and embarrassing. Just take a look at what you , Skerrit and China did to the once beautiful cricket ground in Thibaud and sports in general. what a damn shame!!!