Five skilled young people will leave Jamaica tomorrow to compete in the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, China. They are part of a travelling party led by Dr. Taneisha Ingleton, Official Delegate, Chief Executive Officer of WorldSkills Jamaica, and Managing Director of the HEART/NSTA Trust.
Embodying the hope of the nation at the biggest skills competition in the world are Rayon-Jai Pusey and Antonio Rolong in Autonomous Mobile Robotics, Courtenay Ferguson in ICT Network Infrastructure, Omar Crockett in Unmanned Aerial Systems, and Brandon Brown in Optoelectronics Technology. Like Usain Bolt or Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, they will carry the “likkle but we tallawah” spirit of Jamaica to the global stage to make us proud.
They will compete alongside 1,400 participants from more than 94 countries and regions. Known as the “Olympics of Skills,” the event provides a premier platform for young, skilled Jamaicans to test themselves against the best, build international networks, and gain invaluable experience to bring back home.
Jamaica’s place on the WorldSkills stage is firmly established. WorldSkills Jamaica, an initiative of the HEART/NSTA Trust, was established in 2002. In 2004, Jamaica became the first English-speaking Caribbean country to gain full membership in WorldSkills International. Since then, the nation has built a credible standard of TVET excellence when measured against the world’s best.
Bridging the Gap Between Classroom and Industry
Through WorldSkills Jamaica, the HEART/NSTA Trust equips Jamaican youth with world-class technical skills that meet global standards. Commenting on the relevance of the competition, Dr. Ingleton noted, “The disciplines that our competitors will compete in are at the forefront of innovation, digital transformation, automation, and connectivity, reflecting the evolving skills required to succeed in the global economy.”
The Red Stripe Study Tour
As part of their preparation, and to ground their training in real-world industrial contexts, the competitors took part in a study tour on August 28, 2026, at the Red Stripe brewery in Kingston.
Speaking during the tour, Dianne Ashton Smith, Head of Corporate Affairs at Red Stripe, shared: “When we were approached to showcase what we do—and the skills gaps we’re seeing—we were amazed. We’ve always had a long-standing relationship with the HEART/NSTA Trust, and this is an extension of it. The calibre of students coming out of the Trust is fantastic, and we look forward to them working alongside us to drive productivity. We expect these young people will showcase their wonderful talents in IT, in drones, and across all these advanced fields.”
Competitors gained hands-on exposure to advanced technologies—including automation, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), industrial gases, refrigeration, heating, 3D printing, and maintenance systems—directly relevant to their respective fields in ICT, robotics, drones, and optoelectronics.
For the competitors, the exposure deeply resonated. Courtenay Ferguson, competing in ICT Network Infrastructure, said, “Red Stripe gave me insight into how monitoring systems aid automation and how complex the beverage brewing process is. I was really surprised by the scale of the equipment needed to run the factory, and I believe this will sharpen my understanding of how factory network infrastructure must be established and maintained to ensure peak performance.”
Nation-Building & Economic Impact
The HEART/NSTA Trust—Jamaica’s National Training Agency and the primary driver of technical and vocational education and training—continues to leverage partnerships with corporate leaders like Red Stripe and global bodies like WorldSkills. These alliances help secure critical equipment, access global expertise, and equip Jamaicans to thrive in the global economy.
For Jamaican employers, the invitation is open. The HEART/NSTA Trust is calling on industry partners to follow Red Stripe’s lead: open doors for study tours or collaborate with the Trust to co-design job-ready training tailored to specific business needs. As the WorldSkills team departs to represent Jamaica in Shanghai, the message to the private sector is clear: a globally competitive, future-ready workforce must be built together.