THE fifth batch of apprentices from the seven-month Republic Bank Guyana Limited Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme graduated last Friday, and a graduation ceremony was held for the participants in the Savannah Suite of the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, where Labour Minister Dr. Nanda Gopaul delivered the feature address to the 29 young men and women that comprised the batch.

The minister applauded the bank for the work it has been doing with the apprenticeship programme, and said the programme will not benefit only the apprentices, but the workforce of Guyana in general.
He described the programme as being amply structured to better bridge the gap between school life and the world of work, and opined that the bank can qualify to be a master under the Board of Industrial Training (BIT).
Dr Gopaul also observed that the apprentices seemed to have grasped their training well, and he said they at least had an understanding of the various facets of banking. “All financial institutions in Guyana are buoyant, and there is a regular turnover of staff; and to be afforded that opportunity to be trained for this period in such an intensive programme is to, in fact, qualify you for a banking job in one of our banks,” he asserted.
Dr Gopaul encouraged those  apprentices who may not gain employment with Republic Bank to consider that the banking industry in Guyana is dynamic; and he implored other banks to grasp the opportunity to employ those apprentices.
He also commended those teachers who recommended the students for training under the apprenticeship programme, because they would have chosen students who would have demonstrated a liking for the field of banking.
The minister urged the apprentices to remain in the banking field, pointing out that the apprenticeship programme is merely the stepping stone for them, being the beginning of their banking career. He wished them well in their future endeavours, and told them to aspire for the top positions in the banking field, but he advised that that was an achievement which can be accomplished through hard work, dedication, and discipline –traits which have all been taught to the apprentices during the programme.
Also speaking at the ceremony was Managing Director of Republic Bank, Mr. John Alves, who noted that the bank’s objective through the programme was to mould and guide a group of Guyana’s youths for future career options, with a view to supporting national professional development.
He congratulated the apprentices for their achievement, pointed out that their general conduct during the programme was a resounding statement of their commitment to excellence, and said that their conduct assured the success of the programme.
“Over the seven months of the apprenticeship, each participant was exposed to the day-to-day banking processes (in order to become familiar with) the core values that we sought to establish, including excellence in customer service, attendance and punctuality, a professional attitude, and team orientation,” he explained.
Mr. Alves informed that the apprentices attended and participated in the bank’s annual staff party, Diwali Sari Pageant, Easter Hat and Kite Competition, and Care-A-Van with children of the Guyana Red Cross Convalescent Home. They also were exposed to first-aid practices at the headquarters of the Guyana Red Cross Society, and had field trips to the Baganara Island Resort, Fort Island and Bartica.
Alves urged the graduating team to always strive for excellence, and to stay the course of professionalism, dedication, and integrity — motto of the Youth Link Apprenticeship programme.
He took the opportunity to particularly commend the special performers, who are all males, with one female in the midst, and he deemed it a reversal of the trend in past years.

Awards
Awards were granted as follows: For the most effective presentation — Kerian Allen; the most improved individual – Rowllon Wright; the most disciplined and best business proposal — Kemo Paul; and the best all-rounder — Nicola John.
The Youth Link Apprenticeship programme was first introduced in Guyana in 2008, and the current batch of graduates brings the total number of participants of the programme to date to one hundred and twenty one.