Modalities for hospitality training being worked out by Guyana/Barbados

As 6,000 Guyanese are set for hospitality training in Barbados, Guyana and Barbados are currently working out the modalities.

It was revealed that the governments of Guyana and Barbados agreed last year on the training of Guyanese in hospitality, to effectively prepare Guyana for the imminent boom in the tourism sector. Tourism Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond said she, along with Barbados’ Tourism and International Transport Minister, Senator Lisa Cummins, recently met with head of the training institute in Barbados.

It was noted that President Irfaan Ali disclosed last year that Barbados has an established world-class hospitality programme which will be beneficial to Guyana. Ali had noted that there is need for technical capacity and human resources to manage and work in the many hotels that will be established locally.

Walrond in providing further details on the programme, noted that the training will be hybrid, fusing theory and practice.

“The theory part is going to be hybrid, and then when we are going to do the practical, that is when we are going to have more hands on, and face to face, and that is going to be what we have decided on,” Minister Walrond said.

She continued, “We have decided on a theory, we still have to work out the modalities of how we get the practical portion going, whether we have some of our students go to Barbados to complete, let’s say their certificate programme, whether it culminates with a practical programme at the end of it or whether we incorporate different modules of practical in the theory session….” 

Meanwhile, the minister said the establishment of the local Hospitality Training Institute is progressing smoothly, as well as all areas of collaboration with Barbados in terms of airlift and joint marketing.