LAST FRIDAY, the Ministry of Social Protection through its Board of Industrial Training (BIT), graduated 25 youths at Bartica.
The BIT training programme is aimed at empowering youths with skills necessary to meet the future needs of local industries. During the six-month session, the youths were trained specifically in Heavy Duty Equipment Operation.
Present at the graduation ceremony were Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott; Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford; Deputy Mayor of Bartica, Kamala Persaud; Assistant Director of the National Community Development Councils (NCDC), Donald Ainsworth; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Protection, Lorene Baird and Heavy Duty Equipment Operator Officer Earl Pestano.
Minister Scott said that the graduation of the youths indicates that Bartica will no longer have to look to Georgetown for handouts. The minister said that the youths are now equipped with the skills needed to further push the developmental process in the township.
However, Minister Scott highlighted the importance of government’s intervention to foster the leaders who understand how to go about developing the ‘Green Town’ of Bartica. “Unless we train you, unless we train your brothers and sisters they would not know how to do it,” the minister explained.
Minister Scott also encouraged the youths to form cooperatives as it is the best way to rapidly develop the town.
The minister said by forming the cooperatives “it will help you to access the type of equipment you need to foster development in Bartica and Guyana as a whole.”
Deputy Mayor Kamala Persaud, lauded the graduates for completing the training programme. However, she cautioned them stating that, “going forward I hope that you will constantly tell yourselves that the sky is not the limit, your mind is; whatever you put your mind to you can achieve it and today is a testimony to it.”
The deputy mayor urged the graduates not to take the opportunities they receive for granted. Persaud noted that very soon, the town and the larger region will need the skills that they have acquired. Persaud stated that “there are many projects as we move forward that will require your knowledge, your skill and you will financially benefit from these projects.”
NDCD Assistant Director Donald Ainsworth expressed similar sentiments as Deputy Mayor Persaud and Minister Scott. He urged the youths to use the skills they have acquired to foster development in Bartica. “There is so much to be done to develop Bartica that your skill would be needed right here and I hope that you would commit yourself to enhance life here in Bartica.”
The graduation of 25 youths makes it the third batch to graduate from the BIT training programme in Bartica. While the course saw only males graduating, the Heavy Duty Equipment Operator Officer Earl Pestano indicated that already five females have registered for the programme, which recommences in April, 2017.
(By: Isaiah Braithwaite)
