From block to business world ‘in a month’

Within the next month, young people from several blocks around the island should have their own businesses up and running.

Several aspiring entrepreneurs were present this morning in Silver Hill, Christ Church, as Minister of Youth and Community Empowerment Adrian Forde inspected one of Government’s four sites for their Building Blocks Project.

The finishing touches are being applied to the five kiosks, which when completed in the next few weeks will house the businesses of young people from the area.

The remaining three sites are located in Bonnetts, Ivy and Parkinson Field.

Permanent Secretary Yolande Howard revealed that eight other communities are also to benefit from the project which aims to address rising youth unemployment with entrepreneurship training and technical assistance

Forde told journalists the Building Blocks Project would allow young people the opportunity to live their dreams.

He said: “We have a simple message for our young people; when you stop doing the wrong things the right things will have the opportunity to catch up. In this country, young persons must have the Usain Bolt moment with the right things.

“This project will also become part of Government’s countercyclical measures in terms of employing persons across this country and in terms of employment post-COVID-19. We have to get our young people working again.

“The levels of unemployment are a concern to me certainly as Minister of Youth and this entire Government, and we will do everything to ensure that young persons have a tangible stake in this community.”

The permanent secretary said the youth ministry is pushing to get work at all of the four sites finished soon and expand the project.

Howard said: “We are also looking at additional sites and we hope that when we go into the next phase of this project to work on eight sites in other communities in Barbados.”

She revealed that all of the lands used for the project were Government-owned.

Two of the young men from Silver Hill who are involved in the project praised the minister for the initiative.

Corey Kellman, who plans to start his own touchless car detailing business, said he was grateful for the opportunity.

“I’m fussy because I’ve never had anyone come and put something in place for me that I could just get money to feed my family. To me, I see it as a giveaway and I’m very thankful for it. I will try my best to make this my house and to do everything top,” Kellman said.

He said he would target the public service vehicles operating on the Silver Hill route as customers.

An elated Randy Went said: “I’d like to thank the Minister for actually bringing a dream to life for us and my kids and other people’s children who are around the neighbourhood and the community.”

He also revealed that he would be planting a garden which would help to provide food for people in the community.