Heavy-Duty Equipment Operator training for Region 1 residents

Residents from the Mabaruma sub-district in Region One (Barima-Waini) will soon have the opportunity to access a new set of technical skills, as the Labour Ministry in collaboration with the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) gears up to roll out their six-month Heavy-Duty Equipment Operator (HDEO) training programme in the region.
This announcement was made by Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton during a meeting with Region One officials at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Boardroom. During the engagement, Hamilton emphasised that this initiative aims to equip residents with the necessary skills and knowledge needed to support local development. Moreover, it aligns with the government’s commitment to enhancing skills training and providing a qualified workforce for employers.
Looking ahead, BIT, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, plans to implement a series of skills training programmes in the sub-district for 2025. Minister Hamilton encouraged the members to propose various training initiatives, prioritising each to address community needs.

Regional Chairman, Brentnol Ashley, expressed gratitude to the government and BIT for their commitment to improving the lives of residents, particularly in tackling social issues like teenage pregnancy and substance abuse. He noted that this training initiative will enhance employment opportunities for the community.
To date, the programme, which was developed to address the lack of heavy-duty operators in the country, has trained nearly 100 persons in heavy-duty equipment Operator in Georgetown alone this year and has a duration of four to six months. The programme covers various topics, including equipment Operator techniques, safety procedures, maintenance practices, and industry regulations.
Notably earlier in August, some 292 additional heavy-duty equipment operators were added to the country’s skilled workforce following a graduation ceremony in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) for HDEO trainees.

The HDEO training programme is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Finance’s Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) and the Ministry of Labour’s BIT and allows for public and private sector employment of all trainees in the respective field, especially with the country currently on a fast-paced development trajectory.
The graduation ceremony saw 247 males and 45 females graduating from the programme, further demonstration the government’s aim to include women in all fields of employment as well as empower them through access to education, training and employment. It comprised graduates from New Amsterdam, Hampshire and Upper Corentyne as well as persons who hailed from the outskirts of these communities.
Since taking office in August 2020, the PPP/C Administration has successfully trained over 12,000 skilled Guyanese, a testament to its dedication to empowering citizens. Moreover, since its reassumption to office in August 2020, the government was able to create approximately 60,000 new jobs. The 60,000 new jobs created by the PPP/C surpasses its 2020 manifesto promise of 50,000 new jobs. Now, with the economy booming and expanding at an exponential rate in all sectors, the country is experiencing labour shortages in which the government is partnering with the private sector, training institutions and other agencies to fill those shortages. Minister Hamilton expressed confidence that these efforts will positively impact the lives of the Guyanese people.