Residents from several districts in Trelawny say they can now approach the tourism and business sectors with new confidence, as they are more armed with the necessary business acumen to do so.

The residents - all from farming backgrounds - beamed as they concluded their two-week certification training, another in a series of tourism, quality-service improvement, business and environmental-awareness programmes.

This forms part of a project to transform the Cockpit Country's communities of Flagstaff, St James and Bunkers Hill, Trelawny, into eco-tourism villages, enabling residents to earn a living from sustainable livelihood projects, without harming the environment.

The training is being undertaken through a joint venture comprising the United States Agency for International Develop-ment and Protected Areas Rural Enterprise Project (USAID/PARE); The Nature Conservancy (TNC); the Forestry Department; the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) and the Small Business Association of Jamaica.

Special recognition

Last week, special recognition was given to a number of persons who demonstrated competence and excelled in the training. They included Kerra Brown, Ian Gordon, Asburga Harwood, Carla Ledgister, Henry Barnett and Shamani Nathan. Barnett raised the roof with frequent outbursts of laughter with his composition of Poko Poko Pop in a Mi Cucnat Pot.

"The training showed us how we can sell Jamaica in a meaningful and progressive manner. I want to utilise the training and get more people involved," said Asburga Harwood, 64, the oldest trainee.

Similar sentiments were expressed by the other trainees, who all concurred that they, as well as Jamaica, stood to reap tremendous benefits from the training they had received.

"The training has made me aware of the value of our natural resources, how we can capitalise on them, while protecting our environment," stated Ledgister.

TPDCo's training officer, Lorna Newman, said the residents would receive their Team Jamaica certificates at a later date.

"We are working with the residents in Flagstaff and Bunkers Hill to bring about the training and to further develop the projects into a complete package," said Carla Duhaney, USAID/PARE programme assistant.

Meanwhile, Judith Blake, TNC programme manager, said the training would enable the recipients to represent the tourism product in a positive way.