Blockpreneurs open shop

Three entrepreneurs from Bonnetts, Brittons Hill were all smiles on Thursday, as they signed licensing agreements and received keys to newly built kiosks as part of the Government’s Building Blocks project to make ‘blockpreneurs’ out of jobless young people.

Minister of Youth Dwight Sutherland praised the entrepreneurs for investing in themselves and starting their own businesses. He gave them an assurance that the Government had several plans to include young people in a number of job initiatives, namely in green energy.

He declared: “We have to train our young people – and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, will embark on a training program to train 1,000 young persons over a two-year period, in the area of the bio-economy [and] in the area of the renewable energy economy.

“With the view that when we train these young people, these thousand young persons, we will create new employment opportunities, and that will become our saviour in terms of how we can deal with the loss of the tourism economy.

“We intend to create jobs through renewable energy, through the bio-economy, utilizing our natural-based resources.”

The minister also stressed that the kiosks that have been erected in such communities as Silver Hill and The Pine, will not only serve as spots for young entrepreneurs to ply their trades but also help incentivize other young people to see many ways in which they can earn an honest living.

Sutherland said: “What I am hoping is that as other young persons look on and see what we are doing as a Ministry, that what we are doing across Barbados as a government within various communities, the young people will recognize that there is no need for violence, there is no need for deviant behaviour, but there is a need to get on board and help us revive the Barbadian economy. Help us address some of our social challenges across Barbados within communities.”

Anderson Knight, one of the three entrepreneurs on hand to enter their new kiosks praised his experience in the Building Blocks project, with the business owner citing several areas in which he has improved to help grow his business.

“First of all participating in the project, we learnt a lot – how to handle our business, business law, how to market your business, get yourself out there, even media training to get our business out there on social media, and you know for sure I give thanks for that,” he said. “I give my thanks for the building, that I can put what I learnt at my courses, I can apply them to my business. So this is like a dream come through.” (SB)