ST.GEORGE'S - “The numbers are overwhelming. We are extremely pleased with the turn out and the participation by everyone involved. The response demonstrates that this kind of event is critical to the reconstruction process,” ARD Director of Economic Recovery Promil Paul said today. More than 800 job seekers, the majority of them young people, completed and returned registration forms at the Agency for Reconstruction and Development Inc. (ARD) first ever Job Fair and Employment Counselling Workshop on Saturday. A total of 1,200 forms were handed out at the ARD Welcome Tent. The Seamoon Industrial Park was transformed. Building One, which houses the Grenada Call Centre, contained 32 booths to facilitate employee/employer interactions, along with the ARD Secretariat that comprised eight desktops and twelve support staff. The ARD Secretariat was kept busy typing resumes. Approximately 200 resumes were completed, while another 300 resumes are currently being typed at the ARD. These resumes will be forwarded to the applicants for further use. “We have the beginning of an employment bank with these resumes and I believe, as we analyse the contents, we will see statistics of value for the Government generally and the Ministry of Education and Labour in particular, as well as the private sector,” Mrs. Paul said. This was no ordinary Job Fair. “It was designed to bridge the gap between employment needs and the assessment of training needs,” Mrs. Paul explained. Hubbard’s had a car on site, along with computers, air conditioners and refrigerators; and conducted informative demonstrations throughout the day on computer repairs and assembly, auto mechanics, refrigeration and air conditioning skills. Amistad Horse Stables from Hope had two horses on site, demonstrating the opportunities for expanding the tourism product in St. Andrew’s with horseback riding for visitors. Several youngsters enjoyed their first horseback ride at the Job Fair. Ms. Sandra Coombs-Paterson, Human Resource Executive at Courts, in commenting on the Job Fair said: “this was an amazing experience and we want to do this again with the ARD.” Many of the ARD staff, along with volunteers from the private sector and non-governmental organisations, spent the entire day conducting career coaching and guiding in an effort to assist the hundreds of young people who came for advice on seeking employment. “This is fantastic,” Mr. Finton De Bourg, president of Capital Bank International, said at the conclusion of the Job Fair, adding that “we have some 300 applications to review.” Pamela Isaac, a fashion designer who attended the Job Fair in search of potential seamstresses and tailors, left before the event ended because she had collected several dozen names of potential employees. “I am very happy. I have enough names and this has been a great experience for me,” Ms. Isaac said. Building Two at the Seamoon Industrial Park contained booths that provided counselling services, along with advice on establishing or expanding a small business. Short presentations on interview skills and employment in the hospitality industry were conducted, which were well attended throughout the day. “The event has demonstrated quite clearly the need for much more career counselling. The services provided at the Job Fair helped young school leavers understand what is required of them as they prepare to enter the work force. The counselling helped to show their strengths and weaknesses. They learned how to assess themselves,” Mrs. Paul said. The participating employers and agencies included: Creative Designs and Construction Co. Ltd. Grenada Pavement Construction Ltd. Housing Authority of Grenada Grenada Construction Association De La Grenade Industries Capital Bank International Caribbean Micro Finance (MICROFIN) Clico International General Insurance Ltd. Noel Ville Ltd. Barking Barracuda Amistad Stables Mod One Computer Services Miracle Computing Cable & Wireless Grenada National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Grenada Solid Waste Management Authority St. George’s University Courts (G’da) Ltd. Hubbard’s The Job Centre Flamboyant Hotel Devotion 2 Ocean Marine and Yachting Association of Grenada Grenada Marine Horizon Yacht Charters Spice Isle Marine Services Grenada Board of Tourism Grenada Bureau of Standards Grenada Solid Waste Management Authority Grenada Industrial Development Corporation Grenada Development Bank St George’s University GR 3 Rain Inn Ministry of Education and Labour Crisis Shield Grenada Rural Enterprise Project (G-Rep) GRENCASE Rotary Club of Grenada St Augustine’s Medical Services Royal Grenada Police Force Soubise Fishing Co-operative Source: Agency for Reconstruction and Development