A creative approach to combat unemployment

By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

Jamaican company Bartley’s All In Wood has launched a crowd-funding campaign to increase employment in one of the island’s rural areas while developing their business.

The Mandeville-based family-owned company uses woodworking off-cuts to make art, accessories and souvenirs. According to managing director Lacey-Ann Bartley, Jamaica has one of the highest youth crime rates in the Caribbean, and there is a strong correlation between youth crime and youth unemployment. The five-year-old company has a team of 10 full- and part-timers, all of whom are unskilled young men from the local community, who are taught the art of wood carving and turning.

“Bartley’s offers hope, skills, purpose and an alternative to crime. Not only are we helping stem youth unemployment, but we are also a community business, which means that the income we earn is distributed throughout the community,” Bartley asserts.

The goal of the $3,000 campaign, launched August 1 on isupportjamaica.com, is to allow Bartley’s to employ more local staff and to purchase their own engraving machine so they can keep up with demand for their popular hardwood coasters and cutting boards.

“Why should a guest come to Jamaica and get a souvenir that’s made elsewhere? Our vision is that tourists will come here and by Jamaican gifts made by Jamaican labor from Jamaican wood,” said the 29-year-old entrepreneur.

Backers can contribute as little as $10 to the fund, which expires August 31, and, as a token of appreciation, may receive with their donation (depending on its size) items ranging from key rings to having a tree planted in their name.

“Employment and training provides empowerment and change in these young men’s lives,” said Bartley. “I’m building upon what my father started with the aim of growing [Bartley’s] into a sustainable enterprise that benefits our community and Jamaica.”

For more information or to make a donation, go to isupportjamaica.com or bartleysallinwood.com.

The post How This Jamaican Art Company Is Combating Youth Unemployment appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Jamaica keeps getting greener.

Following the launch of a major new wind farm on the island, the country’s government announced that it was finalizing an agreement with Eight Rivers Energy Company to build and operate a 33.1-megawatt solar facility at Paradise Park in Westmoreland.

The plant represents an investment of $50 million, with construction slated to start in the next calendar year.

Supply to the grid is slated to begin in 2018.

“This will be the lowest cost ever for solar power in Jamaica. It will also advance the Government’s major policy objective, namely, the diversification of Jamaica’s energy supply mix to reduce cost and dependence on imported oil,” said Jamaica Energy Minister Dr Andrew Wheatley.

Jamaica is also returning to the market with a new request for proposal for 100 megawatts of renewable energy.

“It is our intention to grow the Jamaican economy in a sustainable, endogenous and inclusive manner. This is the notion of prosperity for all. The Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology is playing a leading role in this regard. One only has to look at our net billing arrangement which has significantly boosted the capacity of individuals to earn from their renewable energy efforts,”he said.

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Hotels in the region have announced creative new positions in all kinds of fields in recent years, from wellness concierges to rum sommeliers.

Now, Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort has announced its newest hire: a vibe manager.

The St Lucia property has appointed Yasa Sereno as its new vibe manager, or, as it describes, “the person who creates the overall feel of a resort.”

Sereno works with the hotel’s team on all creative levels, “from setting the perfect mood for a romantic dinner at the Bayside Restaurant, to curating the perfect playlist at the pool,” the property says.

— CJ Staff

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Dutch carrier KLM is adding more flights to Aruba.

After the success of newly-introduced flights to the island for the summer months, the carrier has decided to allocate additional capacity to Aruba for the winter tourist season.

This will mean about 3,800 additional seats to Aruba from November through March, according to the Aruba Tourism Authority.

KLM had begun operating extra flights in July, with new service on Sundays.

KLM Will be flying the route with its Airbus A330-300 planes.

The new flights will operate later in the day, allowing for connections with markets such as Germany, Norway and the United Kingdom.

— CJ Staff

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Canadian air carrier WestJet has announced a new destination: Belize City.

The carrier will begin serving Belize City with nonstop flights from Toronto Pearson International Airport beginning Oct. 29.

WestJet will be operating the flights twice weekly.

“WestJet is proud to become the only Canadian carrier to fly non-stop to the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport in Belize,” said Bob Cummings, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Commercial. “The flight’s departure time will allow guests to connect seamlessly from many cities across Canada to a destination known for its large Canadian ex-pat community. WestJet continues to respond to the needs of the communities we serve by delivering more choice, competition and lower fares to Canadian travellers. The launch of service to Belize and our new, year-round service to JFK underlines our commitment to making air travel better in Canada.”

The flight is the latest new addition to the network for Belize, which has seen record tourism growth in 2016 as one of the Caribbean’s fastest-growing destinations.

“With Canada being one of the strong source markets for tourist arrivals in Belize, we are extremely excited about this new direct route,” said Karen Bevans, Director of Tourism for Belize. “We welcome WestJet’s first direct flight to Belize, which we guarantee will boost the demand for Canadian travel to our unique destination. Belize and Canada have shared strong ties for many years, so we anticipate that this direct flight from Toronto to Belize City will encourage even more Canadians to venture south to our beautiful jewel.”

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