Creating pathways to employment and entrepreneurship is part of building safer communities. In Soufriere, the Barons Drive Marine Services Project is putting that approach into practice by helping residents develop skills to pursue opportunities in marine tourism.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Crime Prevention, Conflict Resolution and Persons with Disabilities, through the Department of Crime Prevention and the Soufriere Crime Prevention Task Force, is supporting the initiative alongside the Soufriere Constituency Office, the Soufriere Regional Development Foundation and the Community Tourism Agency.
The project focuses particularly on young people, providing training intended to strengthen their ability to earn a living, build businesses and participate in the local economy.
The first cohort began training on November 10, 2026, with First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) at Soufriere Estate.
Customer Service Training followed on November 11 and 12 at the Cool Breeze Conference Room.
Sessions in Tourism Standards and Public Liability are scheduled for November 16 and 17, respectively. Participants will also have the opportunity to pursue Coxswain Certificate Training, with a date to be announced.
These sessions address safety, customer relations, professional conduct and the responsibilities involved in delivering marine tourism services.
For the Ministry, the project supports a preventative approach to community safety that recognises the importance of people’s social and economic circumstances. Access to relevant skills, positive engagement and legitimate earning opportunities can help address conditions that increase vulnerability to crime and delinquency.
The initiative’s crime prevention focus does not imply that participants have been involved in wrongdoing. Its purpose is to expand opportunities and strengthen the support available within the community.
By working with tourism and community development partners, the Department of Crime Prevention is supporting an effort that connects individual advancement with Soufriere’s wider development.
The project aims to help residents build sustainable livelihoods while contributing to a marine tourism sector grounded in safety and professional service. It reflects the Ministry’s commitment to prevention through collaboration, community participation and practical opportunities for residents.