WITH several new courses on board, a more accessible venue and emphasis being placed on the agricultural sector, the Critchlow Labour College (CLC) Linden branch has been re-launched and is on the verge of commencing classes.

The re-launch was held at the Linden Enterprise Network on Wednesday and saw present several regional officials, educators, members of the college’s board and members of the Region 10 Committee. General-Secretary of the Guyana Trade’s Union Congress, Lincoln Lewis, appointed Mackenzie High School teacher and former Member of Parliament, Vanessa Kissoon, Chairman of the Region 10 Committee. The college was closed in 2010 after the PPP Government withdrew its subvention, but former MP Kissoon told the audience that it was a glorious day since in parliament, she had always fought for its re-establishment . Miss Kisoon, who also chaired the programme, spoke of the many good things that the college has done for Linden students who attended, alluding to many of them who currently hold high offices.

In addition to this, Kissoon highlighted that the CLC is responsible for young Lindener Shellon Messiah, who has earned a scholarship to pursue medicine at Texila American University. “Critchlow has being doing things and Linden and Region 10 will continue to support Critchlow because it is something that we have been fighting for,” Kissoon affirmed
Region 10 Member of Parliament, Audwin Rutherford, who gave the feature address and expressed appreciation for the return of Critchlow to Linden, urged the executives to align the programmes to better suit what is needed in Linden and Region 10. He alluded to the region’s ailing agriculture sector and the need to offer courses which will furnish persons with the skills needed to develop this sector.

“Critchlow Labour College should understand the vision of the region, so they align the programmes to the vision of the region,” Rutherford said. With the development of the oil and gas industry, Rutherford spoke of the need to focus on this sector so that Lindeners can also give service to this industry. The MP also urged the executives to be cognizant of the growing need for bilingual citizens and should include foreign language courses on the curriculum. He encouraged the executives to have more dialogue with stakeholders and to track the achievements of the college’s graduates to understand what can be done to improve the services offered. “May Critchlow Labour College not only change Lindeners and change , but indeed change the world,” Rutherford concluded.

Kissoon revealed that the college will be offering several agricultural courses which will include a Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture, Certificate in Sustainable Forestry, Certificate in Fisheries and Aquaculture and Certificate in Sustainable Mining. Other courses that will be offered include the Certificate in Industrial and Social Sciences; Certificate in Further Access to Education; Certificate in Management and Organizational Development; Certificate in Communication and Effective Speaking and Writing; Certificate in Social Work; Certificate in Computerized Accounting among many more. The classes will be held at the Linden Technical Institute and will commence after a significant number of students enrol. The institution has already completed stage three of the accreditation process, according to Principal Ivor English.

The Critchlow Labour College, which is an arm of the Guyana Trades Union Congress has been in existence for nearly five decades, since it was chartered on October 12, 1967. Its mandate is to provide an opportunity for workers as well as trade union leaders to improve their skills, thereby enabling them to respond more positively in their respective fields of work and other engagements.

The institution has made it possible for thousands of Guyanese and what we call second-chance students who had failed in their first bid or stumbled in their attempt via various issues and experiences, whether it be parenting, finances, social and moral challenges, but the college opened its door and welcomed back those second-chance, attempting students.