David Hoey, chief executive officer of World Skills International; Paulette Dunn-Smith, acting executive director of HEART Trust/NTA; Robert Gregory, president of Jamaica Trade and Invest; Grace McLean, technical delegate of World Skills Jamaica; and Kevin Mullings, official delegate of World Skills Jamaica, are engrossed in a conversation at the World Skills International stakeholders' meeting held at HEART Trust's corporate office on Oxford Road in New Kingston yesterday. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer
Jamaica's planning machinery was revved up yesterday as the island continues to fine-tune preparations to host the second largest event on the World Skills International's calendar - the General Assembly.
In October 2010, officials from some 50 countries will descend on Kingston for the event. A venue is to be decided.
World Skills International is the organiser of the biennial World Skills competition, a major international vocational contest. The competition is the association's premier calendar event.
Jamaica beat Singapore in 2007 for the privilege of hosting the general assembly. The country's successful bid was supported by both the public and private sector. The HEART Trust/NTA, the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), Jamaica Trade and Invest and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) were highlighted yesterday for their contribution to the effort.
September 1 competition
The next World Skills competition will be staged in Calgary, Canada from September 1-7.
This year's staging will be the competition's 40th and over 900 competitors, competing simultaneously in 45 skill categories, are expected.
David Hoey, chief executive officer of World Skills International, said his organisation, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary at the general assembly in Kingston, is the "world's best kept secret".
He explained that World Skills International is a not-for-profit membership association open to agencies or bodies which have a responsibility for providing vocational education and training in their respective countries or regions.
He explained that the competition allows skilled professionals to benchmark their performance against international standards.
"We are the Olympic Games of skills ... but the difference is everyone is a winner in world skills," Hoey said, while addressing a stakeholders' meeting at HEART Trust's corporate office on Oxford Road in New Kingston yesterday.
Hoey also encouraged the Jamaican officials to spearhead a regional skills competition.
Robert Gregory, president of Jamaica Trade and Invest, endorsed the country's staging of the general assembly and its participation in the international skills competition. Gregory believes hosting the general assembly is a milestone event. "You're either world-class or no class at all," he said.
tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com