Canadian farms want more Jamaican women
WE ARE a people of hope. Christians are by nature full of hope. But “Hope that is seen is not hope. For what a man sees, why does he hope for it? But if we hope for what we see not, we hope for it with patience.” (Roman 8:24-25).
Great is that gift of hope. We go forward in life, knowing there is a heavenly kingdom. There is Heaven, eternal life, being with Christ, being with the Father. It will be forever. We will be in the home of Christ. He will welcome us, prepare a room for us. He will hear us knock at His door. He will open the door and welcome us at table. He will wait for us at the table, then He will sit with us and dine with us. We will converse, and I will see His face. He will enlighten my heart and mind. Our Master, Jesus, will be our servant. Just as He washed our feet, He will continue to be our servant. Oh my God! How beautiful is Your love and kindness and humility! I cannot understand it, Lord.
“You tell me You would die for me once again. You love me so much, You would die over and over to save me! Why would you do that Lord, when I am such a sinner?”
“Because I love you, I love you unto death. Hope in me, my brother, Richard. No matter how weak you are, no matter how much you fall. I will be there to raise you up. Keep on going! Never stop. Hope in Me. Believe in Me. I will be with you, Richard, all days, even to the end of time.”
That’s our hope: God’s tremendous love for us and His promise of eternal life – a life without pain, without fear, without anxiety, without quarrels. And all in Heaven will be saints; no more selfishness, no more hatred, no more misunderstandings.
THERE IS A LONGING
This state and this place is inconceivable on Earth. Our expectation of Heaven is not visible, tangible, heard here on Earth. Yet there is that longing in every man and woman for that reality. This is why we do good. We help one another, forgive one another, pour out ourselves in good deeds – so that we may gain an everlasting reward. It is a hope that “we see not, we hope for in patience”. And as Jeremiah 31:16-17 says, “There is a reward for your works ... And there is hope for your last end says the Lord.”
We must hope in the Lord, fellow Jamaicans and Christians. We must live in hope and spread hope. If we lose hope, being weary in the day of distress, your strength will be diminished. We must work hard, work joyfully, and continue to spread Christ, our hope, and keep our eyes on the eternal reward (Proverbs 24:10) Not only does hope give us strength to go on, but the end of it will fill us with all the joy and peace with you believing, that you may abound in hope, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
We will always have enough of this material world if we work hard, pray hard, and, be faithful to our responsibilities. In the meantime, we must evangelise and be strong in our hope.
Yes! Death, suffering, struggle, and hatred are everywhere. But life, eternal life, will conquer with hope in our hearts. Hope in Jesus Christ! NOW THAT Jamaica is seeking to expand its overseas employment programme, Minister of Labour and Social Security Shahine Robinson says Canada is showing interest in having more Jamaican women become seasonal farm workers.
Robinson was speaking on Wednesday during a dispatch ceremony for the first batch of farm workers heading to that country for 2018. The ceremony, for 300 men, took place at the ministry’s East Street offices.
“As a government, we are seeking to expand the overseas employment programme, both in low-skill and unskilled categories, while at the same time, increase the number of females on the overseas programme. The Canadian government has in fact raised that with us, that they would like to see more women coming in on the programme,” the minister said.
“Last year, for the first time, approximately 165 women were employed in the US on the farm work programme. It has been reported that they performed creditably on this pilot programme. I can assure you that the numbers will be increased.”
While agreeing that more women are needed in the farm work programme, Robinson indicated that there was a greater need for better trained farm workers generally.
“The potential for increasing and enhancing the programme is feasible, but we must be able to provide better trained workers, and to do so, on a regular basis. Recently, we went to Canada and met with the Canadian minister of labour and we met with the Member of Parliament for Nova Scotia and the objective was to discuss the strengthening and expansion of the programme, for the mutual benefit of both countries.”
For more than 50 years, the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme has been steadily providing employment opportunities for Jamaicans. The 2017 calendar year saw a total of 9,367 workers travelling to Canada under SWAP and the low-skill programmes.
Collin Barnes, who hails from St James, told The Gleaner that it would be his first experience on a farm work programme. His desire is to make a good impression on his first trip, so that employers will request him time and time again.
“My cousin gave me a lot of encouragement. He taught me some of the things he learnt over there. He has a phone and he takes pictures with all the processes that he goes through on farm work. I like it. Really and truly, this is my first year, and I would like to go on it for 40 years,” he said.
As a government, we are seeking to expand the overseas employment programme, both in low skill and unskilled categories ...