“Use your skills to earn, save, and build your own business” – Finance Minister to graduates

…as 292 heavy-duty equipment operators trained in Region 6

Some 292 new heavy-duty equipment operators graduated in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Saturday, further strengthening the country’s skilled workforce.
The graduates, comprising 247 men and 45 women, were celebrated in a ceremony that marked another milestone in Government’s ongoing efforts to provide Guyanese with better employment opportunities.The Heavy-Duty Equipment Operator (HDEO) Training programme, a collaborative initiative between the Finance Ministry’s Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) and the Labour Ministry’s Board of Industrial Training (BIT), is designed to meet the increasing demand for skilled labour in Guyana’s fast-developing economy by offering practical training in operating heavy machinery, including tractors, excavators, skid steers, and forklifts.
Upon completion of the programme, trainees receive from BIT certification that qualifies them for employment in both the public and private sectors.
The three-month training programme, which began in September 2023, targeted participants from New Amsterdam, Hampshire, and Upper Corentyne and surrounding communities.
Saturday’s graduates included 108 from New Amsterdam, 89 from Central Corentyne, and 95 from Upper Corentyne. The programme’s inclusivity, particularly in empowering women, aligns with Government’s broader goals of providing equitable access to education, training, and employment for all citizens.
Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh, who delivered the keynote address at the ceremony, congratulated the graduates and emphasized the importance of their newly acquired skills.
Noting that the rapid growth of Guyana’s economy has created unprecedented demand for skilled labour across various sectors, he said, “You now have a skill. To be able to take advantage of that opportunity to apply your skill, to earn an income, to save up a bit and, maybe at some point, set up your own business,” Singh encouraged the graduates.
He also highlighted the presence at the ceremony of several companies offering immediate employment opportunities to the new operators.
The Finance Minister has stressed that success in the workforce requires hard work, dedication, and consistency.
“Don’t be under any illusion about success, there is no shortcut. You have the capacity here to earn a decent and very respectable income, but for you to earn that, you must be committed and show up to work consistently,” he advised.
Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton, in addressing the graduates, reiterated the Government’s commitment to youth training and development across all regions. He emphasized the variety of training programmes available through BIT, which aims to equip young people with the skills needed to secure employment in a growing economy.
Since resuming office in August 2020, the PPP/C Government has created approximately 60,000 new jobs, surpassing its manifesto pledge of 50,000.