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by pltm
(PLTM) - The misguided notion that a person can only be successful if they are in a suit and tie needs to stop, as it is becoming more difficult to find skilled workers. This is the view held by two senior politicians. "In these days, it's easier to find a doctor than a plumber…Nowadays, plumbers make more money than doctors; all jobs are important and must be treated equally," commented Premier Hon. Dr. D. Orlando Smith. The Premier added, "When I was growing up, there was a tendency on the part of parents to have their children go into professions such as law, medicine. I myself went into medicine, but I wasn’t forced by my parents." He said that this has resulted in less persons pursuing skilled jobs. "…In those days, medicine and law subjects; there were not so many people in those professions, but nowadays if you want to find a plumber to work for you, it's difficult." Hon. Myron Walwyn, Minister of Education and Culture, also commented that the BVI is a very diverse society, where all citizens are required to make a contribution. "No society can function well without technical experts to do the very necessary and important things. If we are all doctors and lawyers, who will fix our cars? If we’re all doctors and lawyers, who would be the chefs in the hotels?" He added, "If we’re all doctors and lawyers, who will build our homes? If we’re all doctors and lawyers, who will do women’s hair and makeup, and make them look pretty? The point is a successful society requires its population to have diverse skills." The Minister stated that if they are to be truthful, there are many reasons for unemployment, particularly among young people, "but I believe in many instances we have more of a skills problem than anything else."
