Youth Apiary Business Venture gets underway
“I didn’t come here to offer any of you a job, even though I know that for us here in Grand Bahama, that’s not something that you want to hear.”
SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH – Minister of State for Grand Bahama in the Office of The Prime Minister, Senator Kwasi Thompson (seated, fourth left) is pictured with participants in the new youth apiculture commercial venture launched on Thursday, October 26, 2017, at the Bahamas Union of Teachers Hall. Of the participants at the two-day workshop, 30 will be chosen for the venture. (BIS Photo/Andrew Coakley)
With those words, Minister of State for Grand Bahama in the Office of The Prime Minister, Senator Kwasi Thompson welcomed participants of the first ever Youth Apiary Business Venture, which got underway on Thursday, October 26, 2017, at the Bahamas Union of Teachers Hall.
“One of the things that we must be able to do is to continue to create that entrepreneurial spirit and bring that spirit back to Grand Bahama. I don’t want to give any of you a job. I don’t want you to just think about where you can find a job, because in this economy and in this Grand Bahama, that is simply not just enough. It is not enough for young people to continue to come to events like this and believe that it’s enough for them to just go out and look for a job.
Opportunity to start your own business
“That may seem like a very harsh statement for a Minister to make, but today, I want to give you an opportunity to start your own business. So you don’t just provide a job for yourself, but you provide a job for other people as well.”
That opportunity could come in the form of a new business venture in the field of beekeeping, or ‘apiculture,’ an initiative geared toward the development of entrepreneurs in Grand Bahama. A week ago Minister Thompson had announced the Government’s intent to start the programme and invited interested persons to sign up to be a part of the opportunity to own a business.
A two-day seminar for all participants
Just over a week later, Minister Thompson was on hand to welcome the first group of participants: more people than expected turned up, which Minister Thompson was excited about. Thursday was the first of a two-day seminar for all of the participants; it was designed to give them an in-depth look into the world of beekeeping.
Although only 30 individuals will be chosen to form the new company, there were over 100 individuals who showed up for the primary launch on Thursday morning.
Read More: Youth Apiculture Commercial Initiative has Successful Launch
