Region 6 residents to benefit from heavy-duty equipment operation training

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh on Monday launched three heavy-duty equipment operation training programmes across Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) to advance residents’ skill sets and employability.
Funded by the Labour Ministry’s Board of Industrial Training (BIT) and Finance Ministry’s Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), the three-month training programmes will be held in New Amsterdam, Central Corentyne and Upper Corentyne.
During the launch, Singh encouraged the prospective students to capitalise on the new and emerging opportunities being offered by the Government as they remain committed to providing upskilling opportunities for all Guyanese.

He further encouraged participants to remain steady and diligent throughout completion of the training course in order to become adequately licensed and certified, and thereby able to contribute meaningfully to the rapid transformation that is currently underway in Guyana.
Also present at the launch were Regional Chairman David Armogan, Regional Vice Chairman Zamal Hussain, BNTF Project Manager Karen Roopchand, and BIT CEO Saskia Eastman-Onwuzirike.
Meanwhile, during this Region Six trip, Hamilton also inspected the ongoing infrastructural works being done in anticipation of the construction of a BIT training centre in New Amsterdam.
The 4000 square feet training centre is being built in accordance with Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQs) standards, and aims to provide a conducive learning environment for trainees to engage in practical training in a number of areas.

Further, on Tuesday, the Labour Minister also visited a welding and fabrication training programme that is facilitating the development of skills of 15 New Amsterdam trainees.
Hamilton commended their initiative in participating in the programme that he noted will expand their chances to work in a variety of relevant industries.
BIT has been working to address Guyana’s labour needs by providing some 80 free training courses that have benefited over 9000 Guyanese countrywide, allowing them to become entrepreneurs or employed.
Meanwhile, in addition to these heavy-duty equipment training programmes, the BNTF – a joint developmental programme funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Guyana Government – has been investing in the construction of a number of community roads, construction of schools and installation of several water supply systems. (G13)