BIT training for 45 residents of Annai, surrounding villages

Training in the areas of hospitality, catering, welding and fabrication will soon commence and is targeting forty-five residents of Annai and surrounding villages in the North Rupununi, Region Nine to embrace the many opportunities emerging from Guyana’s rapid economic growth.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on Monday last, between the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB) and the Bina Hill Technical Institute to facilitate the training of persons.

Labour Minister, Joseph Hamilton noted that the programme conforms with President Irfaan Ali-led- Government’s plan to ensure every Guyanese has equal opportunity under the ‘One Guyana’ initiative.

“Whatever services and opportunities people are receiving on the coast, wherever people live, the same opportunities will come to them…there has been this territorial issue of young men and women who want to upgrade themselves in technical area but they have to leave their villages and go into strange territory, [but] what we are attempting to do is bring training to the villages,” he said.

Hamilton pointed out that the training is an important aspect of the country’s development.

The minister noted that the culinary art training, which he said is necessary to boost tourism and provide optimum hospitality for tourists.

“People will remember your village, good or bad, based on the food you give them to eat…and that is why this programme is important, you cannot discuss tourism and hospitality and you’re not discussing training people to cook all types of meals,” the minister explained.

Minister Hamilton stressed that welding and fabrication are necessary skills in the oil and gas sector.  As such, BIT’s intention is to train persons who can also attend technical training institutions in the United States.

The minister revealed that the training programmes will be conducted at the Bina Hill Technical Institute. It will employ tutors and trainers from the neighbouring villages.

This strategy, he said will create employment and ensure money remains within communities.

The minister said that government is committed to working with leaders to take more training and development to the region.

“We will work together with the villages, we will work together with councils, we will work together with toshaos, we will work together with the region, we will work together with NRDDB to ensure we can have people trained,” Hamilton promised.