Minister engages Little Diamond, Herstelling residents on training

Over 150 residents of Little Diamond and Herstelling, East Bank Demerara on Wednesday met Minister of Labour, Hon, Joseph Hamilton, at which time he outlined training opportunities from which they could benefit.

The meeting was held at the Herstelling Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).

“The Board of Industrial Training [BIT], which falls under the Ministry of Labour, will train persons of the community in small engine repairs. We have already engaged the NDC to select persons who are desirous to learn a new skill, and we provide necessary resources,” he said.

The Ministry is also launching a ‘training for savings’ initiative aimed at teaching young women and men domestic and culinary skills to generate incomes from within their homes. This is all part of the Ministry’s overall plan to create programmes that will empower persons and communities.

“There are meaningful avenues of development this community needs, one, for example, is the intervention of the co-operative society. It is the vehicle to develop communities, but this will only be possible with transparency. The aim of the Labour Ministry is to assess the developments lacking in communities and to fashion programmes that will be relevant,” he stated.

Communities that conduct farming, fishing, construction and industrial works can also benefit from the training provided by the BIT.

Meanwhile, residents raised concerns about clogged drains and better roads.

In response, the Minister committed to “engaging the Minister of Agriculture and Public Works, so that they can come into the community to get a first-hand view of what is troubling the residents of Herstelling. We are willing to work with the people, no matter the condition.”

The engagement was spearheaded by Chairman of the NDC, Mr. Romel Roopnarine and the Community Works Chairman, Mr. Wilfred Bassan.