The manufacturing sector in Barbados is not dead.
And while he thinks the sector is “under-reported”, general manager of Meridian Caribbean Inc., Ziad Kazan, contends that the sector is providing several opportunities for individuals and the country as a whole, and those involved in the sector wanted to show the youths the opportunities and potential available in full.
Moreover, Kazan said parents needed to be told it was “okay” for their children to study things like mechanics and other trades and make a living from them. He said Barbados needed the in-house talents rather than importing labour from overseas, and advised people to choose local careers. His company makes windows, doors and fences.
Kazan, who delivered the featured address at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic (SJPP) graduation held at New Dimensions on Saturday night, talked his way into the hearts of the graduates, who gave him hearty applause at regular intervals, as well as the invited guests.
Even though he sought permission from SJPP principal Hector Belle on a few occasions, Kazan’s address was marked by straight talk in keeping with his upfront declaration that “we is we”.
In congratulating the full and part-time students for their achievements, he said their very presence dispelled the notion that youths don’t like to work.
He reiterated Belle’s point that one’s attitude was the one thing that had the greatest potential the future and they needed to “keep it in check”. While he is an advocate for keeping oneself current, Kazan is big on work ethics and said he placed it above skill.
Kazan had some special words of advice for the young men. Coming from a different culture himself, Kazan encouraged people to be more tolerant and respectful of people in the workplace with differences.
He had some special words of advice for the young men.
“Our reaction is what defines us, not our action. You know why, because when we plan our action, we think about it before hand. So when somebody rubs us the wrong way, how we react, this is from the heart. . . It takes 1.6 seconds for anyone to pull a trigger and from that 1.6 seconds we will spend eternity in Dodds. So control your temper,” Kazan said to loud applause. (YB)
