L.I.U. Partners with Tubal to Provide Skills Training to Socially-Excluded Population
The Leadership Intervention Unit, in partnership with Tubal Trade and Vocational Institute in Ladyville, today graduated a cohort of over eighty-one men and women who will now have the opportunity to become entrepreneurs or to be employed in an apprenticeship program. It is part of a strategy to address the crime situation in Belize City, for which the changes are already being realized. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Today marks the culmination of a five-month long program where the Ministry of Home Affairs, through the Leadership Intervention Unit, partnered with the Tubal Trade and Vocational Institute to provide specialized training to over eighty persons who have been engaged with the L.I.U. The graduation of this first cohort is a multisectoral approach to addressing violence on the streets.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“In various aspects, including cosmetology, so we do have a lot of females that are a part of this program. We do have automotive training, AC and refrigeration and also electrical training. And so today really is a proud moment. It’s a pity that Mister Dawson is not here to enjoy this moment and to see the graduates. As you know, we’ve been making quite a difference in terms of the violence on the streets of Belize City, in particular. For the last few months, it’s been fairly quiet – thank God for that – but certainly, it is all part of the government approach. This is in conjunction with the Department of Youth Services, the Minister of Youth and Sports – they are also a part of this program – and so that is what we are speaking of when we describe this multisectoral approach, bringing everybody together, very deliberate, very purposeful in getting out these types of results. And so the young men and women graduating today, proud moment for them and for their families that they are now trained in particular skills.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police Doctor Richard Rosado is an executive member of the Leadership Intervention Unit. He says that to see greater societal improvements and greater reduction in crime, investments must be made in those who are considered a part of the socially excluded population.
Richard Rosado
Dr. Richard Rosado, Deputy Commissioner of Police
“We have a large number of individuals who are graduating with marketable skills, individuals who are from the socially excluded population. And I believe this will lead to meaningful income and an increase in the cost of committing a crime. So I believe that the investment that our government is making and the stakeholders is like an insurance policy for greater societal improvement and the benefit for the individual and the society on a whole is enormous.”
Duane Moody
“We notice that it is not limited to only men. We also see women included in this program.”
Dr. Richard Rosado
“Under the Leadership Intervention Unit, we are including both males and females and all ages in terms of our program. I believe to empower, we must empower everybody from the socially-excluded population.”
Among the graduates today is Lauren Panting, a resident of the Gungulung area of Belize City. She speaks of how the program has built her capacity.
Lauren Panting
Lauren Panting, Graduate
“The program has and will benefit me because of the fact that it’s a job, a self employed job and I can also assist others like myself to become entrepreneur. It’s very educational, it’s been fun, it’s a journey, a struggle, ups and downs, but if you are a person that really wants to be successful and succeed, nothing will keep you from getting what you put your mind to.”
These programs have been held numerous times and some of the same actors are being engaged. So what makes it different this time around?
Dr. Richard Rosado
“If you notice, the huge reduction we are seeing in terms of violent crimes in Belize City, in terms of the murder. In fact, this year alone, we are seeing sixty to seventy percent decrease in murders. So I think that speaks volumes for itself. And we have analyzed the programs that have been done in the past, all the initiatives, and we have seen what were the challenges and shortfalls and we have improved on that.”
Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa says that the next step is to provide these graduates with the tools needed to support their business ventures.
Kareem Musa
“There will be follow up with them – not just in terms of placements within an apprenticeship program, but we will be announcing very shortly that we will be equipping them with the tools and materials that they need to follow up with their trade. Each one of the graduates will be receiving a grant, so to speak, of eleven hundred dollars in the necessary equipment. So they won’t be getting money; they’ll be getting eleven hundred dollars worth of the equipment they need to start up their business.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
