Sponsors' Cocktail Reception hosted by the TVET Council and The Crane Hotel on January 7, 2012: Minister of Labour and Social Security Dr. the Hon. Esther Byer Suckoo pictured with the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic's finalists in the Hairdressing category of the WorldSkills Barbados Competition, scheduled to take place March 7-9, 2012.

By Shamkoe Pilé, Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Barbados

Many countries are redeveloping their Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) strategies in an effort to bring about increased economic development, and Barbadians must be made aware that the acquisition of technical and vocational skills are an asset in this new economy.

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo made this assertion as she delivered the feature address at the Sponsors' Cocktail Reception for the WorldSkills Barbados Competition 2012, at the beginning of January at the Crane Residential Resort, St. Philip.

Explaining that the WorldSkills Barbados Competition 2012 is a contest which targets students enrolled in technical and vocational education and training institutions, she noted that it was patterned after the WorldSkills International Competition, which is held every two years in one of 58 Member countries/regions.