TPDCo Equips Police Officers to Become Team Jamaica Trainers

Kingston Jamaica: September 2, 2014 - The first batch of police officers to be trained as team trainers in The Tourism Product Development Company Ltd.’s (TPDCo.) flagship “Team Jamaica” programme completed this rigorous exercise in Kingston recently.  Over six days, the group  of eighteen were taken, through an intensive training programme, which included sessions on tourism, including tourism awareness, trends in tourism, impact of tourism, marketing of Jamaica and the Tourist Board Act.  The officers were exposed to topics on coaching, leadership and motivation; professionalism; adult learning methodology; technology in training and other aspects of Jamaica’s culture, history and the environment. 

These officers will now coordinate and train groups of rank and file members of the JCF in tourism matters towards certification in the “Team Jamaica” programme, which is recommended for all tourism industry personnel.

According to TPDCo’s Executive Director, Mr. Dennis Hickey “the objective of the exercise is to expose the men and women of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to the business of tourism, while strengthening the human resources in the tourism industry in general.  I expect that the participants will be enthusiastic to impart the material they have assimilated over the period to the rank and file members, especially those who will be serving as tourism liaison officers”. 

Sergeant Julio Francis of the Port Antonio Tourism Liaison Office was awarded “Best Team Player” while Corporal Winston Harris of the Community Safety & Security Branch Headquarters, Kingston was recognized as the “Best Presenter” of the group.  In response to the training Corporal Harris said “it was an excellent eye opener for me.  I learned the difference between giving information and facilitating learning.  I had my dreams realized, enjoyed every second of it and the quality of my presentations will make a dramatic improvement.”

The training was made possible through sponsorship support from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) to the tune of one point four million dollars ($1,400,000.00).

A second batch of fifteen (15) officers will be trained as Team Trainers in September, 2014 as the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment continues its efforts to sensitize police personnel to the peculiarities of the tourism industry.

About TPDCo

The Tourism Product Development Company Ltd is an agency of the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment whose mission is to facilitate the diversification, development and improvement of the tourism product, utilizing an experienced and qualified staff to enhance visitor experience by building consensus and strategic alliances with industry stakeholders in order to engender socio economic growth. Its Training Department offers courses in Tour Guiding, Protocol and Professional Etiquette several other hospitality skills areas and its leading training programme, “Team Jamaica.”