Minister Griffith Wants YES Expanded Into Other Caribbean Islands

If Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Charles Griffith gets his way, the Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (YES) may be expanding to other Caribbean islands.

At the YES recent graduation ceremony held at Sandals Barbados Resort and Spa, Maxwell, Christ Church, Minister Griffith expressed his belief that the nigh 30-year-old organization was rife for expansion into the regional market.

To that effect, Minister Griffith noted that his ministry had started the process of looking to see how they can move YES outside of Barbados.

Further addressing the topic of expansion, Griffith revealed that it was the Ministry’s intention going forward, to have YES courses certified by the University of the West Indies, in order to help alleviate some of the pressure experienced by students.

He added: “I’ve asked the [YES] manager to interact with the University of the West Indies through the continuing studies [programme], where your programme and the next cohort, more than likely, will be certified. The fact that you are here immediately after COVID, I think that we should try to see how best that we can [co-operate] with you to ensure that you are certified as far as this programme is concerned.”

Griffith also told the 42 graduates that if they wish to see their brands grow, they must expand the availability of their products and services to international markets. And he encouraged the entrepreneurs to make that their mission going forward.

“[A]frica, Europe, all over the place — and hence, Barbados must not be your destination for you to take flight, circle and land. You must try to go to another destination with your product, with your services, whatever it is, [because] you cannot see Barbados as the only destination for your own journey,” Minister Griffith maintained.

Established in 1995, YES offers participants the opportunity to develop their business acumen and build the necessary skills and competencies for success. The initiative exposes participants to a suite of support tools to strengthen their capacity and ability to navigate and successfully build their businesses.