Local CSME Unit Host Public Education Campaign

CARICOM Week started on Sunday and runs through to Friday of this week. As part of its public education, the CSME Unit within the Ministry of Trade has embarked on a number of public education activities. Partnering with the Chamber of Commerce, a panel discussion was held with Belizeans who work within the region as a result of the treaty that provides for the free movement of people within the CARICOM member states. We stopped in at today’s event and spoke with Directorate of Foreign Trade and one of the panelists.

Dr. Leroy Almendarez, Directorate of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Trade

“A number of Belizeans have applied for the skills certificate, but remember you can move freely. Belizeans know now that you can get your job certificate and you can move freely and apply for a job anywhere within because of the free movement of goods and services. I am not sure a lot of Belizeans have really decided to relocate because remember we are not encouraging people to relocate. What we are saying is that you can get your skills certificate and you can move to another part of the Caribbean where it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is something that we are telling you should go out there and do. But, you know for a fact that those opportunities are available.”

Andrea Polanco

“Why do you think we don’t have as many Belizeans, perhaps, taking up these opportunities, as compared to places like Jamaica and Trinidad? Is it a matter of qualifications?”

Leroy Almendarez

Dr. Leroy Almendarez

“Well, you have to look at it this way. If a member state sends out a vacancy, it means we can apply, but it doesn’t mean you automatically get the job; you still have to go through the same process. So, if you are not qualified for the job and you are not selected, it doesn’t mean it because you are from Belize. It simply means their process in place provided, because remember when we advertise now, people from within CARICOM apply for these jobs and because a person from Jamaica gets a job within Belize, it doesn’t only mean you get the job because you are a Jamaican, but it simply means that the Jamaican was qualified enough and we can’t tell the Jamaican that you couldn’t apply. So, it could be a case of not having the qualifications that is necessary but that is not the process that eliminates, because across the member states, as a matter of fact  in some of the member states, you find out that most of the skills certificate that people got are from outside the region.”

Linda Blease, DJ/Video Director

“Dealing with CSME definitely help me personally fu move round inna the Caribbean easier and getting more exposure in the Caribbean. It easier fi maneuver yourself round and get round dah different countries and actually get the opportunity fu work and promote yuhself in the country.”

Reporter

“What advice would you give other Belizean artists in terms of getting themselves out there?”

Linda Blease

Linda Blease

“My biggest thing to them is to look at it as a great opportunity to put yourself out there. The Caribbean much smaller than trying to push yuhself inna the U.S. Yuh dah call it like, what you call it, small fish big pond or you could get a big fish in a small pond. Suh you could get yuhself deh because lotta deya country dah like Belize who have smaller populations. It’s easier to find out who are the news people, example, who are the people to know from the radio stations; who are the promoters in these countries to get yourself out deh and get yuh music out deh and get yuh product out deh and always remember fu get yuh product together when you di try approach deh yah angles, as in yuh branding, yuh photo work, yuh video work if you dah wah musician, mek sure you have yuh recorded music and that type ah stuff going fu yuh. Mek it easy right? Suh, if deh come and say, ‘aerite yuh dah wah DJ or you dah wah singa, show mi weh yuh do’ Or show me yuh influence or show me some place you have performed already. Mek sure you have that ready so that you could just say, hold yah and it practically done right? And just say okay now yuh hired.”

Andrea Polanco

“What’s one lesson that you’ve learnt that you can share with the Belizean public?”

Linda Blease

“Umm..look pahn it like a business, always. Neva look pahn it like wah hype or just look pahn it like I wah be wah DJ because I wah do that or I wah be wah musician because yuh can’t wait fu stand up in front ah wah crowd ah people. Look pahn it as something weh yuh passionate bout and you really wah execute it and llok pahn it like wah business. Always remember dah wah business. That’s why they call it the music industry, dah wah business industry.”