PREMIER William Atu has emphasized that the Canadian International Training & Education Corp (CITREC) is a top priority for the Guadalcanal Provincial Government. This was confirmed during a formal meeting between Premier Atu and His Excellency Ashwant Dwivedi, Chairman of CITREC.
The two leaders met on Tuesday last week at the Guadalcanal Provincial Headquarter to discuss the re-engagement of the CITREC program, which had been deferred due to the COVID pandemic.
Premier Atu reaffirmed his government’s commitment to reopening the program soon is well aligning with the newly launched 2024-2028 policy strategy. He acknowledged Chair Dwivedi’s ongoing support despite the province’s financial difficulties.
In response, Chair Dwivedi mentioned that the CITREC program will expand to include opportunities in skilled labors. The skilled trades program will provide opportunities to people in the trades sector. Both the province of Guadalcanal and CITREC will explore collective opportunities to help Guadalcanal residents in areas of trades practice meet Canadian standards.
Chair Dwivedi also thanked the Guadalcanal workers in Canada who had stood firm to support Canadian businesses during the outbreak of the pandemic saying GP workers stood to be heroes who all agreed to have their work permits extended to support Canadian business by continuing to work for them.
Since the launching of the CITREC- Guadalcanal partnership some people who are working under the CITREC program have successfully received permanent residence (PR) status for Canada. Canada’s permanent residency also includes the family members.
Guadalcanal Province became the first province in Solomon Islands which witnessed its people obtaining Canadian residency as part of CITREC program in Canada.
The Guadalcanal workers continue to contribute to Canada’s labour market, especially in the agriculture sector, as part of the temporary worker program. Most of them have benefited from the program which has widely helped the Guadalcanal workers support their families and communities in Guadalcanal and Solomon Islands. Many people have successfully built homes and invested into the local economy through remittances they send back to their families.
“The relaunching of the CITREC program is envisaged to provide many education, training and advanced labour mobility opportunities for Guadalcanal people “Guadalcanal Premier Atu said.
The two leaders also covered topics such as agricultural products and exports compliances of root crops.
The meeting was also attended by executive members and several MPAs and was chaired by the Speaker of the Guadalcanal Provincial Assembly, Hon. Peter Aoraunisaka.
