The formal opening of the new Harrison Centre, Antigua and Barbuda Institute for
Continuing Education (ABICE) took place on Thursday as hundreds turned out to
witness the opening of the centre, a gift from the Harrison’s Foundation.
Among the officials who delivered remarks at the opening exercises, was Prime
Minister Gaston Browne who noted that Antigua and Barbuda currently has a
shortage of skilled labour in several disciplines, and it is the expectation that the
new Harrison Centre will help bridge the gap.
“Our government now must ensure that we train a highly-skilled cadre of young
Antiguans and Barbudans to fill these gaps so that we don’t have to continue to
import these talents in order to supplement our labour requirements,” he
emphasized.
Education Minister, Daryll Matthew, under whose stewardship the Centre falls,
said the government is making every effort to ensure that nationals can access
education at all levels. “Just as the Youth Skills programme became the Antigua
and Barbuda Institute of Continuing Education, the metamorphosis will continue.
Like the mythical phoenix rising from the ashes, the Harrison Centre, ABICE, will
emerge as a centre of excellence for technical and vocational training, not only for
Antigua and Barbuda but for the entire OECS,” he remarked.
Sir David Harrison, who has funded the project to the tune of £4 million,
congratulated the government for pursuing the project, despite encountering
challenges along the way. “You should be proud; you actually stand out in the way
that you remain undaunted. This is not me being friendly here; you actually get
things done and that takes a lot,” he observed.
Antigua and Barbuda’s representative in London, High Commissioner, Karen-Mae
Hill and Executive Director of ABICE, Arlene Weste, were among those who
offered thanks and appreciation to Sir David for his generous contribution to
Antigua and Barbuda.
The new edifice will offer workshops in a variety of skills for young people whose
preference is for skilled and vocational training.
