Portmore community now has access to a full range of career development services with the official opening of the Portmore Career Development Centre at the HEART Academy.

The Career Development Centre will provide career guidance, counselling and placement to persons at all stages of training, from those just starting in the workforce to those seeking a career change.

Executive director of the HEART Trust/NTA, Dr Carolyn Hayle, highlighted the impact of lifestyle change on career opportunities and how career development can help an individual be better prepared to adjust to this change quickly. She also emphasised that the centre will help guide individuals towards income streams that best match their skill sets and interests.

HEART's National Pro-gramme Director, Dermon Spence, noted that with the success of the toll road and the city's growing population and labour force, a trained workforce would keep Portmore fully engaged in economic development. He challenged all present to explore career options for the future by utilising the Career Development Centre.

The importance of the location of the Portmore Career Development Centre was of singular importance to the mayor of the municipality, His Worship Keith Hinds. He said that being located in the safe and central environment of the HEART Academy would further enhance its potential to improve career prospects for the citizens of Portmore, which he referred to as the "15th parish".

The mayor went on to say that he believed that a trained workforce is needed to engage business development with the diaspora, which would further make Portmore an investor's dream.

Mayor Hinds said his desire was to see Portmore as a well ordered and prosperous community and emphasised that he would be giving his continued support to the Portmore HEART Academy because he understands the importance of education.

Also in attendance at the dedication ceremony were special guests from the Portmore business community, Member of Parliament Colin Fagan, representatives of the HEART Trust/NTA and students and principals from the Bridgeport, Cumberland and Waterford high schools.