A partnership between the Barbados Police Service (BPS) and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment has led to 80 young people being referred to the law enforcement agency in recent years.
Speaking to Barbados TODAY at the launch of the employability programme, Get Hired, at Hilton Barbados on Friday, Senior Youth Commissioner Elizabeth Bowen said this was the fourth year the ministry and the Police Service had collaborated to offer young people insight into the organisation responsible for law and order on the island.
“I would say it has been extremely successful because based on the persons we have referred so far, the feedback from the Barbados Police Service is that persons from our batches have got into the Police Force as a result of our Get Hired programmes,” she said.
“We have invited the [Police] Service to come and display their various units and give some pictures to the young persons who have expressed an interest in becoming members of the Barbados Police Service and give them an opportunity to ask some questions so they can make informed decisions in applying to the Barbados Police Service.”
The Get Hired initiative, a partnership between the ministry and Prince’s Trust International, was started in 2016 to engage private sector companies to recruit young people.
“We have done the retail sector, the health sector, we have done the logistical sector, the production and manufacturing sector, and the financial services sector. The programme has allowed us to engage with a number of employers across sectors to create employment opportunities for young persons,” Bowen explained.
“At today’s event, we have a cadre from the Barbados Youth Advanced Corps, but certainly, we have close to 100 persons present and the remaining persons are from throughout Barbados who basically have an interest in joining the Barbados Police Service. So, this programme is about helping the youth of our nation to find wholesome employment,” she said. (AH)
