Hylton prepares Seaview Gardens for logistics hub

West St Andrew Member of Parliament Anthony Hylton has announced plans to create a workforce college in Seaview Gardens as part of a thrust to prepare the people to benefit from logistics-related activities.

"The college will provide skills training in critical areas that respond to the new and emerging labour market needs of the logistics-centred economy," Hylton said as he contributed to the State of the Constituency Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Hylton, the industry and commerce minister, has been leading the charge to have Jamaica become the fourth node in the global logistics chain.

On Tuesday, he told fellow legislators that in addition to the Heart Trust/NTA and the education ministry, he was partnering with the Caribbean Maritime Institute to make it a reality.

new paradigm

"The training, will, therefore, include trailer driving, inventory and supply chain management and other logistics-related functions," Hylton said.

"We believe that a college of this nature is critical in preparing the people of Western St Andrew, and indeed Jamaica, for this new paradigm in our country's development," he added.

West St Andrew is a strong People's National Party seat which Hylton has represented since 2007. It includes areas such as Riverton Meadows, Duhaney Park, Cooreville Gardens and Washington Gardens, as well as Plantation Heights, Happy Grove and Belvedere Heights.

Plantation Heights, Happy Grove and Belvedere Heights were added to the constituency following realignment of boundaries ahead of the 2011 elections.

Meanwhile, Hylton told parliamentarians that many of his constituents are entrepreneurs in the scrap-metal trade, the food industry, and most recently in the ornamental fishing industry.

regional hub

Arguing that Jamaica has the advantage of becoming the regional hub for the export of ornamental fish due to its proximity to the United States, Hylton said he has set aside $1 million from his Constituency Development Fund to facilitate the training and provision of equipment for interested entrepreneurs in the communities of Waterhouse, Duhaney Park and New Haven.

"With the training of 29 participants recently completed, and programme participants equipped with the tools needed to support the growth of ornamental fish, we fully expect members of the community to reap the resulting benefits. This initiative is in its pilot phase. We anticipate that the findings of this pilot will define the direction of future training programmes in this area," Hylton said.