That’s right, Jomo Thomas

Editor: I am hearing many ideas coming from the candidates of all the political parties. I especially like ULP’s candidate Jomo Thomas’ idea, as expressed Sunday night, November 15 in Clare Valley. Jomo made it known to the world that he will seek to develop the human resources in South Leeward. {{more}}As a human resources development specialist myself, I am delighted at Jomo’s assertive pronouncements. Jomo did not just make that claim in a vacuum. He stressed that this strategy is critically vital in the context of the plans to develop the South Leeward area. He wants to see more vocational and technical education, because the development plans for SVG and South Leeward require this type of knowledge and skills.

Jomo must keep highlighting this human resources development strategy. The benefits will be plentiful. This will mean more jobs, less poverty, less social exclusion, and more inclusive development in South Leeward and by extension, SVG. It will mean more economic growth. It will mean more local development in South Leeward, and other constituencies.

The entire nation must embrace this approach more and more. All candidates should be in a race to see who is more committed and genuine in actually putting the enabling environment in place to enhance the human resources of the nation, based on the national development vision, plans, policies, and projects. The people in South Leeward will be much better off when Jomo gets to implement this strategy. And as the ‘conscious candidate”, as he is called by the people, he understands this strategy very well. In addition, the local communities in the villages and towns, should rally around this strategy by Jomo and ensure that during the elections campaign, the candidates speak toward these strategies. But they should not stop there. They should vow to keep the elected representatives, including Jomo, accountable for promoting this kind of human resources development strategy.

It has always been said that people are SVG’s major resource. If we really believe this, then Jomo should be encouraged to amplify this idea by elaborating on it and organizing around it, and make it crystal clear that this strategy is urgently needed for SVG’s further development.

This human resources development strategy is right in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals recently adopted in September 2015 by 193 members countries of the United Nations. Goal 4 of the SDGs is to “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”. Four of the main targets to this goal speak to Jomo’s strategy. Target 4.3 urges: “By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university”; target 4.4 stressed that “By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship”; and target 4.5 calls for “By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations”.

The nation should hear more about these ideas leading up to December 9 and beyond in the indefinite future.

Maxwell Haywood