20 women among 112 enrolled in BIT’s heavy-duty equipment training

A total of 112 participants – 20 females and 92 males, are set to benefit from a 16-week Heavy-Duty Equipment Operator training programme initiative to be conducted at the Guyana Industrial Training Centre (GITC).
This initiative, the third for the year, was launched by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT).
Labour Minister, Joseph Hamilton, highlighted the remarkable progress made in skills training over the past five years.

He noted that more than 16,000 individuals have successfully completed BIT programmes, a sharp increase compared to approximately 6,500 trained under the previous administration.
“These results are not just statistics,” he emphasised, “but real stories of individuals who are now better prepared to support themselves and their families.”
He added that the training marks the start of a rewarding journey, and urged trainees to take full advantage of the opportunities ahead.

Meanwhile, Principal of the GITC, Dexter Cornette, while encouraging participants to make the most of every learning opportunity, urged them to focus on mastering both the technical and safety aspects of heavy-duty equipment operation.
“I always tell every batch, when it comes to safety, go beyond the regulations. This field can be dangerous, and several lives have been lost because safety was not prioritised. Never compromise your safety for a few extra dollars,” he stressed.
Govt has invested an estimated $22,476,200 between 2021 and 2025 to facilitate Heavy-Duty Equipment Operator training in Region Four.
Through partnerships with the GITC and the Government Technical Institute (GTI), 389 individuals— 327 males and 62 females, received comprehensive skills development in heavy-duty equipment operations, with all participants successfully graduating from the programmes.
Among those at the opening ceremony were Principal of GITC, Dexter Cornette; Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Officer, Nateica Garraway; Technical Officers, Deborah McBeth, Jason Clarke, and Rohan Bishop; Instructors, Grace Grant-Andries and Alvin Jack; along with other key officials.
The BIT has made strides in empowering youths across Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), with 1,133 individuals trained and equipped with skills from 2020 to date.
Participants earned certifications in fields such as Welding and Fabrication, Electrical Installation, AC Refrigeration Servicing and Repairs, Joinery, General Building Construction, Tractor Driving, Auto Electrical, and Commercial Food Preparation.