– 697 graduate from Region 4

SOME 697 individuals have graduated from the National Training Project for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE) and Single Parent programmes sponsored by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) in Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica).

At a graduation ceremony held at the National Cultural Centre yesterday, President Donald Ramotar, in delivering the feature address, stressed that Guyana depends on the graduates’ skills to support its social and economic advancement, and the fight against unemployment and poverty.
“For our development, we depend on you,” he told the graduates.
President Ramotar explained that the most important factor in advancing a nation’s development is investment in human capital. This, he said, is something at which Guyana has continued to succeed via the BIT programme.
“The quality of people (in terms of training) determines how developed a country becomes,” Mr Ramotar declared.
The Head of State referenced the development seen in China and Japan, which have been designated the second and third most successful economies in the world. He said those designations were secured via massive investments in human capital over the last three decades. “These programmes are extremely important,” he stressed.
The President added that the existence of a skilled workforce and inadequate and insufficient infrastructure are the two challenges that plague national development.

However, he maintained that the BIT programme contributes in a significant way to ensure that a skilled workforce is empowered year by year.
The President assured that graduates with entrepreneurial inclinations would be supported, expressly in light of the fact that they would not only create employment for themselves, but can also do so for others. “This (the opportunity for entrepreneurs) makes courses like this vital,” he declared.
The country’s economy continues to grow, according to the President, despite the existing challenges that resulted from the global financial crisis; and he said the skills of BIT graduates can contribute to efforts being made to diversify the economy.
The effort to remain competitive in an increasingly integrated market, he said, is in addition to separate efforts to add value and strengthen the traditional sectors of rice, sugar and bauxite.
The Head of State used the opportunity to stress his Government’s commitment to realizing hydro-electric power in Guyana. He described the action of Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) as a “temporary” setback.
Considering the current Administration’s commitment to development, President Ramotar called for graduates to broaden their vision beyond the day’s achievement, as great as it is, and use it as the platform from which they could propel themselves towards greater heights and take advantage of the opportunities that the development advance provides.
“Use this as a foundation to go forward and build your capacity,” he said, adding that, by extension, the graduates would be building Guyana.
The Head of State congratulated the graduates on their achievement, and cautioned them on the need for discipline and a constructive attitude in the pursuit of greater successes.
He also congratulated the Ministry of Labour and partnering stakeholders on the successes the programme has had.

GREATER EFFORTS
Labour Minister Dr Nanda Gopaul also made remarks at yesterday’s graduation. He noted that additional efforts are being made to improve the BIT programme, the most recent being addition of training in the service industry.
Dr Gopaul said the advances being made with the programme will continue, and he called for young people to take advantage of the programme.
“Even now we can do better,” he said, adding that every young person who wants the opportunity to be a part of the BIT programme should have it.
He noted that, after training, every graduate has been able to secure employment with “lucrative” pay rates, while others have been given access to tools and materials of trade to be able to start their own entrepreneurial ventures.
Guyana is the only country in the Caribbean where young people who were unable to finish their secondary education have a second chance at training. Referring to the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) efforts to reduce unemployment, Dr Gopual stated that, at two conferences in Colombia and Mexico, the Guyana model was hailed as a successful one.
He underscored the fact that the BIT programmes have responded to simultaneous development advances, thereby affording graduates scope to take advantage of opportunities presented.
Given that developmental projects are a platform for employment, the minister called of MPs to perform their functions in scrutinising the projects; but, at the same time, he said, they must be mindful of the public interest at stake.
Also addressing yesterday’s gathering was Chairman of the BIT Board Clinton Williams, among other programme officials.
Recently, BIT graduations have also been held at Leonora in Region Three (Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara); Bartica in Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni); Linden in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice); and Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam).