Heavy- duty operation course in Mabaruma sees Women, police officers among persons benefiting

The Board of Industrial Training (BIT) is conducting its first heavy -duty equipment operation
training in Mabaruma, Region One. This forms part of a series of training programmes being
rolled out in the Barima-Waini region.
Two females and two police officers stationed at the Mabaruma Police Station are part of the
first batch of 17 persons participating in the four-week programme. Juliana Santiago, who hails
from Khans Hill is one of the two females participating in the programme. The 19-year-old, who
is also serving as a Community Support Officer (CSO) within her community, said the course
will allow her to acquire a skill that is needed in the region. “I started this programme because I
am interested in it and it is the first time something like this is coming to our community,”
Santiago said.
Shane Rousa, another youth, who hails from Thomas Hill thanked the government for the timely
training programme which he said, will benefit his community in a significant way. The newly
acquired skill, he said will help him to secure a job within the construction or mining sectors. On
Monday, Labour Minister, Joseph Hamilton met with the participants and reaffirmed the
government’s commitment to providing skills training to every citizen regardless of where they
live.
“No place is too far with regards to training our citizens. That is why the first thing we did is to
appoint a BIT officer here; in fact, in every region there are BIT officers to sit with village
councils and community leaders to develop training programmes,” Minister Hamilton said.
Hamilton emphasised the need for reskilling the Guyanese workforce to meet the needs of new
and emerging industries. “A one skill and a one talent person will not survive the world of today.
Guyana is developing, it is moving and if you don’t equip yourselves people who are foreigners
will come in and do better than you,” the minister urged the trainees. Hamilton said in Region
One, the ministry is engaging the Guyana Manganese Inc. (GMI) at Matthews Ridge to have
apprenticeship programmes for trainees. He noted that the company had expressed dismay over
having to import heavy -duty operators from other regions to work. The labour minister was
accompanied by Deputy Regional Executive Officer, Shem Cuffy, Mayor of Mabaruma, Chris
Phang and BIT Officer, Mabaruma, Trevi Leung.
Hamilton also visited Kamwatta and handed over a cheque of $250,000 to Toshao Riley Henry
to purchase equipment for the practical aspect of a shade house farming course in the area. Ten
persons are participating in that course, which is expected to benefit over 400 persons residing in
the community. Additionally, another cheque was handed over to the mayor to purchase
equipment for materials to commence a welding and fabrication course within Mabaruma. Ten
persons are also enrolled in that programme. The BIT Officer also received a motorcycle to carry
out his duties.
The Labour Ministry, through BIT has trained over 2,000 persons in over 100 skilled areas last
year. This year, it is expected that some 3,000 persons will be trained under BIT countrywide.