More Success Stories from SLHTA Apprenticeship Programme - Gabriela Alphonse

The SLHTA is pleased to announce another success story of Ms. Gabriela Alphonse who participated in the SLHTA’s Apprenticeship Programme. Ms Gabriela Alphonse joined the SLHTA two month apprenticeship programme in June 2015 with Hospitality Management Services.

Ms Gabriela Alphonse is from the community of La Retret, Rodney Heights in Gros Islet. She attended the Sir Ira Simmons Secondary School where she obtained 6 general passes at CXC (Caribbean Examination Council).

Gabriela has a passion for the hospitality industry and that passion shows in the way she interacts with her customers/clients and people in general. She enjoys meeting and interacting with people and also enjoys spending time in the kitchen. She is the mom of a beautiful 4 year old daughter who currently attends the ABC Kindergarten School in Marisule.

Gabriela found out about the apprenticeship programme from a friend who informed her that it was in the newspaper. Subsequent to her application she received a call from the SLHTA informing her of an opportunity at DMB Holdings (Hospitality Management Services). An interview was arranged for her with the company which turned out to be successful. Although she had no prior experience in Office Administration, she was confident enough to give it a shot. Thus far, she says that it is a fabulous experience and she is always learning new things.

She is extremely happy for being selected out of hundreds of applicants. Gabriela admits that being at home is not a nice feeling, and that she is so grateful for the opportunity given to her by the SLHTA.

Gabriela is now employed with Hospitality Management Services as the Administrative Assistant Human Resource Clerk.

Gabriela had this to say to young people out there “Don’t just sit there, waiting around will not help. You need to get up and search for opportunities; it will not come to you. You also need to be patient and don’t give up, there is always hope.”

President/CEO of DMB Holdings Limited, Mr. Daniel Belizaire, admits that his intention in the beginning was to hire only one staff, but being sensitive to the challenges facing our youth, he decided to keep two apprentices on full time employment after the completion of their training. He commented in an interview “I am very proud of the way that they work and their consistency in service delivery.” He has vowed to continue training them to become even more efficient and effective.

Mr. Noorani Azeez, SLHTA CEO has expressed great appreciation and pride in the manner in which Allied Member companies have come on board to support the SLHTA Apprenticeship Program. He has stated that “the program could certainly not have been as successful as it has been, were it not for the generous support of our allied members such as Hospitality Management Services.