On Wednesday, January 17, 2024, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Energy & Utilities; Domestic Transport; Information, Communication & Technology; and Posts successfully hosted a Career Building Workshop for 14 secondary and tertiary school students enrolled in its Christmas Internship Program. The Minister of Public Infrastructure, Hon. Konris Maynard, devised the new program to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical workplace skills. Program Coordinator and Senior Assistant Secretary Mrs. Shaniqua Carey-Brown expressed hope that the program would also strengthen ties between the Ministry and the general public long-term by promoting a greater understanding of how the Ministry satisfies its mandate through the consistent efforts of its hardworking and highly skilled staff across all departments.
In his opening remarks, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure et al., Mr. Daryll Lloyd, commended the interns for their engagement, questions, and willingness to work throughout the program. Mr. Lloyd highlighted the alignment between the interns’ attitudes and what he described as “certain qualities [and] principles that are critical to the advancement of an institution.” He also thanked Senior Assistant Secretary Mrs. Shaniqua Carey-Brown for her exemplary coordination and management of the internship program.
Former Speaker of the National Assembly and veteran Human Relations professional Mr. Curtis Martin ably facilitated the Career Building Workshop. Through his combination of storytelling, discussions, and group activities, he created opportunities for the participants to evaluate their propensities for leadership and teamwork and to derive best practices for navigating professional environments.
Minister Maynard made a noteworthy appearance during the workshop, taking the opportunity to inspire the interns. He emphasized the significance of this educational endeavor and urged them to take full advantage of the learning opportunity.
The group comprised 1 Fifth Form student and 13 Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College students with academic backgrounds in Business Administration, Automotive Engineering, Technology, Law, Psychology, and Timber Vocations-Carpentry. The interns were deployed across departments within the Ministry, including Water Services, Vehicle Maintenance, Facilities and Maintenance, Energy, Administration and Reception, Human Relations within the Administrative Department, and the Post Office.
The internship program began on Friday, December 8, 2023, and ended on Friday, January 19, 2024. It operated under the theme “Making a Difference Through Doing.”
