PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has congratulated the first recipient of the Skills Passport Solomon Isles program in Canada.
Mr Ofati Leve will be the first recipient of the programme following the launching of the new initiative with Canadian International Training & Education Corp of Canada [CITREC] by the Prime Minister at the margins of the UNGA in New York last month.
The Prime Minister encouraged Leve to be a good ambassador for the Solomon Islands whilst in Canada.
“You are the pioneer under this new programme and therefore you have a very important responsibility to give a good impression to your employers and the Government of Canada of the value of Solomon Islanders,” he said.
The Prime Minister said Leve’s success will open more doors and opportunities for more Solomon Islanders.
Leve in response said he is a proud Solomon Islander and he will be flying the flag of his country in Canada.
“I am excited for this new journey to a new country to work. I am so happy to be the first recipient and I thank the Prime Minister for launching the new programme with CITREC which will definitely be opening new opportunities for people like me,” he said.
Under this programme, Leve will be employed as a chef with a permanent full time employee in a Canadian restaurant with permanent residence and work permit.
He will depart to Canada this Saturday.
This new initiative will introduce eligible Solomon Islands nationals to an expedited stream for Canadian Permanent Residency which comes with permanent jobs into Canada’s Hospitality and Tourism Sector.
It will also introduce new efforts in empowering women in Solomon Islands with seven out of 15 Permanent Residency nominations under the pilot project.
This programme will allow Solomon Islands nationals under a special pilot project to apply for Permanent Residence nomination for Canada that will be supported under Canada’s Provincial Nomination programme.
–OPMC PRESS
