AN infraction of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Training Centre Code of Conduct was breached  on November 12, 2011, when a Guyana Prison Service (GPS) artisan served the Port Mourant Management an ultimatum and led 48 apprentices and two of his fellow GPS artisans to abandon their course. The revelation was contained in the report of the Manager, Mr. Lall D. Persaud at the fifty-first apprentice graduation ceremony on Wednesday afternoon.
He said the warning of the action sought to derail the institution’s disciplinary procedure and demanded surrender to the will of the offenders.
“This was anarchy, unacceptable and disgraceful. This ultimatum was the greatest insult from any trainee ever to this noble institution. It enraged every apprentice and alumni on the face of the planet from 1957 to 2011,” Persaud declared.
He told the audience at the function that the apprentices who were led to abscond were re-admitted under an agreement that, should there be any further breach of the Code of Conduct, their apprenticeships will be terminated.
According to him, three of them tested management’s resolve again, but, instead of the Administration recommending their terminations, it was recommended that they spend the remainder of the term at their respective locations and will be repeating their second year this coming term.
Meanwhile, it was noted that, while in plant training for third and fourth year apprentices is being monitored on a quarterly basis,  it was revealed that an apprentice from the 2008 entry did not successfully complete his third year tuition and has to repeat it.

EXTENDED
Two other apprentices from the same batch had their apprenticeship extended by three months and, unfortunately, were not allowed to graduate.
Reviewing the activities of the past year, the Manager said that training over the twelve months period was affected by difficulties in obtaining materials and tools.
Limited exposure was available for the first year apprentices in the areas of sheet metal, welding and fabrication and forging. However, the Electrical Section benefitted from the request of the Berbice Estates to service and repair their air-conditioning units.
“Shortage of spare parts prevented the apprentices from gaining experience in refrigeration training. Whenever possible, the instructors arranged visits to Albion Estate Field Workshop and Factory to reinforce their theory,” he explained.
Meanwhile, despite the challenges, Persaud said the Centre has pledged to realise its parent’s vision to produce 500,000 tons of sugar by redesigning their entrance examination and selecting the best possible candidates as apprentices.
Programmes, such as basic vehicle and electrical technologies in the first year training, were added, but despite the addition, a greater volume of apprentices surpassed the 70 percent pass mark.
Following the Manager’s Report, GuySuCo Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Paul Bhim related that, for 2012, $244M were expended on training and development within the corporation.

INCREASE
Of that sum, $158M, an increase over the previous years, were spent at the Training Centre.
Recounting the challenges faced at the Centre, based on the Manager’s Report, Bhim said there has to be an investigation.
He said, while it was planned to increase the quality of the intake there will be no compromise with indiscipline.
Alluding to the breach of the institution’s Code of Conduct, Bhim agreed it should not have occurred.
He said: “There must not be a repetition. We must adhere to high standards. There must be no exceptions.”