Tubal Trade & Vocational Institute Turns 21

It all started twenty-one years ago when Lyndon Bailey felt a calling to open a trade and vocational institute he would later name Tubal. From very humble beginnings he and his wife, Lavern, sought assistance from the then government and from a couple lending institutions to open up the first phase of a trade school. At the time, there was no infrastructure development in that area of Ladyville and the Baileys had to purchase a generator and truck water from their house daily to provide electricity and water to the students and to run their programs.  Today, there was much accomplishment to celebrate and News Five’s Marion Ali was there for the occasion. Here’s that report.

Marion Ali, Reporting

There was cause for celebration today at the Tubal Trade and Vocational Institute in Ladyville. It was twenty-one years ago that Lyndon Bailey felt compelled to lead the charge after witnessing a horrible crime.

Lyndon Bailey

Lyndon Bailey, Director/Owner, Tubal Trade & Vocational Institute

“One night I was sitting down and we saw a young man stab another one with a screw driver right here in Ladyville and I said what can we do to help these young people? And I remember the road that I came from. I went to trade school and I said maybe we can build a trade school and start to train these young people.”

Bailey took his idea and his plan to a few key people who recommended him for the loans that he needed to open the school with humble beginnings. But his tenacity eventually paid off.

Lyndon Bailey

“We build the first phase of the school. That’s the bottom flat. We started with automotive, construction and catering and hospitality. We put in an industrial kitchen which we can better serve the students that come. It was hard for us to sell the programs but now I can see it’s getting easier and easier because people are starting to believe in the program that vocational education does make a difference.”

Yadimir Torres is a living testament that the institution can indeed make a difference. For him, meeting the burdensome, costly commute from Orange Walk to Belize City eventually took its toll on his academic education.

Yadimir Torres

Yadimir Torres, Graduate, Tubal Trade and Vocational Institute

“We are from the north right, sometimes you know, our parents are struggling and so forth, money for bus fares and so forth. We need to find how to come to school, but yes we need to come to school because if we don’t come we miss one day and we miss out on a lot. I went to sixth form and we couldn’t finish pay the education.”

That was when Torres decided, with the support of his family, to enroll in Tubal, which is a shorter travel distance, and a cheaper fare. He found his niche in the electrical field and that was what launched him into eventually becoming his own boss, and owning his own company – Torres Electrical and Air Conditioning.

Yadimir Torres

“My mother used to tell me that I used to like breaking thing apart and so forth, so I decided to take the electrical field right. I didn’t miss that opportunity to take the opportunity and this is where I am now.  I have one of the past students as well as my worker, right.”

Torres was a speaker at today’s anniversary ceremony. His story and his message were well-received because two random students who were in the audience are also seeking the path of success that he took.

Trenton Richards

Trenton Richards, Student, Carpentry Program, Tubal Institute

“I take this here at Tubal as a big opportunity and I am taking currently the course of carpentry so I see myself building um, helping with construction, all different type of things.”

Shevar Jones

Shevar Jones, Student, Electrical Program, Tubal Institute

“I gone da RC and drop outta standard five and just deh pahn the streets fi bout three years just di work wid my pa the hard work – construction.”

Marion Ali

“How difficult was it for you to reintegrate back into a school setting after living – you said you were on the streets for a few years?”

Shevar Jones

“Well, when I first come I think I nuh mi wa like it bu then I come eena the classroom fi a week and then I see I like it and I just decide fi stay. I want open my own business. I nuh want work fi people to long.”

Bailey says its students like Trenton and Shevar that keep him and his wife with their shoulders to the proverbial wheel, always seeking to make space for more youths who want to learn a trade.

Lyndon Bailey

“We are hoping that we can get more funding so that we can put up another building for more classrooms, and so we can add more trade. We can add like hair-braiding, we can add how to make cakes – like small business programs.”

Marion Ali for News Five.