IN JAMAICA: Despite $58-m bill, Red Stripe committed to skills programme....“Listening to our graduates, and hearing about their transformation, we are committed to doing this, “ said Managing Director Cedric Blair.

BY INGRID BROWN Associate editor — special assignment browni@jamaicaobserver.com  Tuesday, May 13, 2014

RED Stripe said it is committed to funding its Learning for Life programme, despite the $58-million it cost the company last year to train thousands of young Jamaicans to gain meaningful employment in retail, hospitality, bartending, and entrepreneurship.

“Listening to our graduates, and hearing about their transformation, we are committed to doing this, “ said Managing Director Cedric Blair.

Red Stripe Managing Director Cedric Blair
 addressing yesterday’s Jamaica
Observer Monday Exchange. 

According to Blair, $58 million is still not enough for the plans the company has to provide training for the many unskilled and unemployed persons ages 18 to 30 from marginalised communities across the island.

The managing director, who along with other Red Stripe representatives and graduates of the programme addressed the weekly Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange at the newspaper’s head offices in Kingston, said the company will be embarking on a major charity to raise funds to finance the programme. This, he said, will be done through the hosting of the Johnnie Walker Golf Classic, which will be held July 18-20 at the Tryall Club in Hanover.

“The golf classic will help raise the overall national awareness of the work we are doing through Learning for Life and allow us to attract the right persons and businesses that are in a position to contribute monies to the programme,” Red Stripe said in a press release.

These well-needed funds, according to the company, will ensure that it can continue transforming lives and inspiring young people through skills training. more