Eternal Light Vocational School opening

Opportunity for Sea Lots and beyond

By Kaelanne Jordan

mediarelations.camsel@catholictt.org

The opening of the Eternal Light Community (ELC) Vocational School on March 17 marked a fresh start for Sea Lots, offering hope and opportunities through education and skills development. Since then, over 100 individuals have already registered.

In his address, Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon referred to the 11,700 square-foot building as a centre of compassion and “a second chance for young people and older people who have been left behind and neglected by the community… so that their skills, their talent and their abilities could shine forth…”

Partnerships are already in place with organisations like the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) to provide digital learning resources. Discussions are also underway about establishing a state-of-the-art medical facility to serve the needs of the area.

“…that and robotics are two of the things I would love to get into the community because I believe in a community like this, we need to do the traditional craft because there’s such a great need in the country. But we also need to do cutting-edge stuff so this community understands it’s not just entering into the workplace at one level …there are multiple levels to which you can enter into the workplace,” Archbishop Gordon said.

Reflecting on his long history with the Sea Lots community, he shared that his first visit to the area was over six years ago with ‘Sister’ Deborah de Rosia, the Foundress of ELC, who was helping families that had lost everything in a fire.

Archbishop Gordon pointed out that Sea Lots, unlike other communities such as Beetham, has not received the same level of government investment or infrastructure development.

He explained that “a simple idea emerged” when they decided to move forward not just with constructing a building, but with the goal of advancing social and human development for the children and families in Sea Lots.

Archbishop Gordon recalled a forum with former Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on the country’s crime situation, where he argued that “the problem is a problem of under development” and neglect.

The Archbishop also shared, “One of the nice things about Mr [Donald] Trump is that he made sure that we have no more aspirations for leaving here. None…. Here is a real place, and you and I will fix here and we will do it one community at a time.”

The opening of the school also received strong support from the Ministry of Education. Deputy Permanent Secretary Ayana Gaspard Clarke highlighted the critical role that technical and vocational education and training (TVET) plays in Trinidad and Tobago’s development. “The establishment of this institution truly stands as a beacon of hope, of opportunity for the people of Sea Lots and beyond,” she said.

Gaspard Clarke emphasised that TVET programmes are essential in equipping young people with the skills needed to meet industry demands. She noted that the 2023/2027 national education policy prioritises technical training as part of efforts to close the skills gap.

“Our mandate to revitalise that throughout our education system plays a vital role in addressing the skills gap,” she said. “Institutions like yours are essential in fostering self-reliance, entrepreneurship, and contributing to the overall national development.”

Greetings were offered by Shomari Hector, Manager of STEEP at MIC Institute of Technology; Ann Marie Pierre, Principal; and an address by de Rosia, among others.