Trainees of the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs’ Hospitality Operations Service Training (HOST) Programme showcased exceptional skill, professionalism and confidence during their final practical examination on Wednesday 20 August at the Wallerfield Activity Centre.
The practical session marked the culmination of three months of intensive training designed to prepare young people for employment in Trinidad and Tobago’s food and beverage service industry. Through the programme’s progression from classroom instruction to commis training and clinical practicals, participants developed the knowledge, discipline and technical competence required for professional hospitality service.
During the classroom component, trainees were introduced to real-world service procedures, including left-side serving and right-side clearing, course-specific table settings, and the correct sequence of guest service. At the commis stage, they advanced to the foundational standards of formal dining service, learning fine-dining protocols, table navigation, wine service, and geometric napkin folding.
The final examination practical brought these elements together in a realistic front-of-house setting. Trainees successfully demonstrated their ability to welcome and seat guests, manage service flow, and provide precise, course-by-course food and beverage service under simulated industry conditions.
Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, the Honourable Phillip Watts, commended the trainees for their commitment and encouraged them to use the skills gained to pursue meaningful opportunities in the hospitality sector.
“The HOST Programme is an important investment in our young people, equipping them with practical, marketable skills that can open doors to employment and entrepreneurship. The professionalism displayed by these trainees reflects their hard work and the value of programmes that connect training directly to the needs of industry,” Minister Watts said.
Director of Youth Affairs, Ms. Sherry-Ann Ramlal, noted that the final practical served as an important demonstration of the trainees’ readiness for the world of work. “This evening’s practical is a real-world simulation where trainees prove they can deliver flawless hospitality service, even under pressure. Our trainees mastered the finer details of guest care and sequence of service during the HOST Programme, and are equipped and ready for the hospitality industry,” Ms. Ramlal said.
The HOST Programme was conducted from June to August at the Wallerfield Activity Centre and the Ministry’s Youth Development Centre in California, with 15 trainees participating at each location.
The Ministry anticipates that the newly trained hospitality professionals will be well positioned for absorption into the industry as it prepares to implement the third cohort of the HOST Programme.