The National Training Board (NTB) took another step forward in its mission to develop the national workforce with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic in Barbados.

The memorandum comes in the wake of an agreement signed with the Government of Nova Scotia recently.

Education Minister Terry Lister said yesterday that like the Nova Scotia agreements, the Barbados memorandum set the framework for enhanced workforce development activities in a number of areas.

?We aim to enable human resource development in the areas of marine transport and automotive engineering and further developments in training in those areas,? he said.

Mr. Lister said the memorandum would also provide a framework for mutual student exchanges between the two countries.

These exchange students would be selected by the NTB and the Barbados school and would receive practical experience in preparation for work.

In June, 2004, two automotive apprentices from Barbados served a six-week work attachment in Bermuda at HWP.

Mr. Lister said the agreement would also set the stage for further collaboration in other training initiatives for the mutual benefit of the two institutions.

?It?s anticipated that a technical prior learning assessment specialist will be seconded in July to assist the NTB with the national certification of incumbent technical workers,? he said.

Lastly, the agreement amounts to a framework for the sharing of human resources, programmes and materials.

Mr. Lister said to date 12 Marine and Ports staff have successfully completed a local seamanship training programme delivered by the Polytechnic?s Barbados Coast Guard Officer and instructor, Master Chief Petty Officer Adrian Stoute.

He said the agreement provides for students from Bermuda, selected by the NTB, to be accepted in the full-time Maritime Operations course at the Barbados school.

The costs of the tuition and any other expenses would be fully funded by the NTB and Mr. Lister said they were running ahead of schedule as three Bermudian students ? David Bean, Jevon Byron and Jacal Washington ? would be completing a one-year course in Maritime Operations in July.

?David Bean, a young man with aspirations to become a ship?s captain, is not just the top Bermudian student, he is the best student in class,? he said.