"We have to look for oppor-tunities in these difficult times," Charles said in announcing the jobs.

Executives of the company - AAA Striping and Seal Coating Service - yesterday met with Charles at the labour ministry's North Street, downtown Kingston, offices to iron out the details of the arrangements.

The company is looking to hire five line-painting technicians, who would be responsible for marking roadways.

Although five is the starting number, Edward Andrews, the company's operations manager, told The Gleaner that the demand for more workers could arise during the course of the year.

According to Charles, the partnership is part of the Govern-ment's continued efforts to seek employment for Jamaicans.

So far, 16 persons, between the ages of 19 and 46, have been interviewed for the five positions by the company's representatives. Another 16 are to be interviewed today.

HEART trained

All the persons being interviewed were trained by the HEART Trust/NTA and certified by the National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training.

Director of the technical assis-tance and services unit at the HEART Trust, Robert Green, said the successful applicants must be competent in auto mechanics so they would be better able to understand the equipment they work with.

The workers are to arrive in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in early April to start working on the roads. They are to leave in November.

Workers are expected to be paid an hourly rate of CDN$18.90.