LOCAL small-scale contractors, artisans and other self-employed persons have responded positively to   participate in two four-day training programmes in preparation of estimates for jobs they undertake on a contract basis. Some 24 of them are currently undergoing training in the Computerized Job Estimation Tool (CJET) system developed by the Caribbean Technological Consultancy Services Network (CTCS).
The venue is the Regency Suites Hotel Hadfield Street Georgetown and the training programmes are being held by the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) via a collaboration with the Government of Guyana (GOG) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) free of charge to participants.
A source close to the programme said that the response by locals to the CJET programme has been overwhelming.
“We have had greater than anticipated participation and we are looking forward to all the participants successfully completing this programme which will help them to be more efficient and make their activities much more manageable and profitable,” the source said.
The source  explained that the CJET facilitates  computation of the finite cost of any project, enabling manipulation of the quality of a bid with the Contractor being able to see the impact of a given bid ratio on the overall cost of the bill items and estimating earning in excess of each line item.
“The CJET training aims at enabling contractors and other self employed persons to avoid the inefficiencies in preparing job estimates which lead to cost overruns and delays in the completion of projects,” he said.
It will also help the bidder/contractor to maintain the option to spread projected losses over other items comprising the bill of quantities.
Both the CDB and the BNTF have said that the CJET training programmes have stemmed from their recognition that many small contractors and artisans face serious challenges in preparing estimates for jobs.
“Preparing job estimates that are accurate and reliable is an area of weakness that many times causes problems with the efficiency with which infrastructure programmes are executed,” the source said in explaining the rationale for the CJET programmes for these persons.
Small contractors and artisans in Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and The Grenadines are also targeted for similar training, the CDB disclosed.
The workshop at Regency Suites Hotel currently ongoing  includes sessions on “Environmental and Gender Equality Cost considerations”  and “Management Concepts “ and   networking among the participants as the first phase in the establishment of a BNTF Community of Practice.
This programme which started on Tuesday will end on Friday and a source close to the activity said that Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh has been invited to give the closing address.
The second programme for locals on the same topics will be held from June 6 to 9, 2011 at the same venue.