The Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and the HEART Trust/NTA have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to provide certification for a range of workers in the industry.

The agreement will also complement the existing regional professional certification programme, CaribCert.

Donald Foster, executive director of the HEART Trust/NTA, and Wayne Cummings, president of the JHTA, signed the MoU.

The JHTA has been engaged in skills training and certification for its membership through the Caribbean Hotel Association's CaribCert, a professional certification programme based on knowledge and performance established for 47 of the most popular occupations in the hospitality sector.

Vocational training

All individuals certified under CaribCert in Jamaica will also receive the National Vocational Qualifications of Jamaica (NVQJ)/ Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQs) awarded by the NCTVET where agreed standards are met.

In this way hotel workers can benefit from the local and regional recognition of the NVQJ/CVQ and the resulting benefits that can be obtained through this multi-level, articulated, competency-based certification.

As part of the agreement, the JHTA will provide a database of all persons in Jamaica already certified under the CaribCert programme, as well as copies of relevant training and assessment material to the NCTVET for the purposes of undertaking the require to the appropriate occupational and job standards.

The JHTA will also facilitate an audit of the CaribCert assessment procedures as part of HEART's strategy in determining equivalencies of the NVQJs or any other recognition awarded by the NCTVET where agreed standards are met.

The Association is also expected to identify potential industry practitioners who may be trained as assessors.