Kwakwani to benefit from Labour Office

L-R: BIT officer appointed to Kwakwani, Ms. Pamela Rambaran, Vice Chairman of the Kwakwani Democratic Council, Mr. Cort Simeon, General Manager of the Kwakwani Utilities Incorporated, Mr. David Adams, Minister of Labour, MP, Joseph Hamilton and BIT Chief Executive Officer/Secretary, Mr. Richard Maughn discussing properties

The Ministry of Labour is in the process of acquiring its first labour office and training centre in Kwakwani, Sub-district Two, Region Ten to deliver quality services to residents.

This is in keeping with its wider programme to decentralise its services to ensure a timely response to Labour-related matters such as workplace accidents, and to conduct frequent monitoring and inspections of operations in the area.

In his address during a recent meeting in the Region, Minister, Joseph Hamilton, MP, said: “My attempt is to have in every region a labour office or two to service the people. We will continue to develop this programme and by the end of the year, all of the things we have planned for 2021, by December, all of them should be in place; staffing, temporary offices and we will have some new transportation assets.”

The meeting was held at the Kwakwani Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC). The Ministry is liaising with the NDC to establish a temporary labour office at the library to house appointed staff and serve residents.

Ms. Pamela Rambarran has been appointed the Board of Industrial Training Officer in the community. She would be accommodated in the Regional Democratic Council sub office. Her duties entail overseeing and implementing training programmes in the area.

A Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Officer, Co-operative Officer and Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CRMA) officer are also set to be recruited to the team.

Further, a total of 43 officers from the various Regions are expected to start training today. Of that lot, 21 of them are OSH officers, 10, Labour officers, seven, Co-operative officers and five CRMA officers.

The programme will upskill trainees in specialised areas including mining, oil and gas, agriculture and construction.

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton MP and team scouting lands in Kwakwani

Previously, some nine officers underwent three weeks of international training, which was hosted virtually, and focused on oil and gas. They are expected to supervise the newly recruited officers.

Additionally, the Minister partnered with the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited to identify property that can be used to establish a permanent labour office in the community. Labour offices have already been established in Parika, Linden and New Amsterdam. Additionally, steps are being taken to equip offices in Skeldon, Upper Corentyne, Mahaicony, Bartica, Mahdia, Mabaruma, Port Kaituma and sub divisions of Region Four (East Bank and East Coast).