NINETEEN ranks from the Joint Services yesterday received certificates for successfully completing two-week course of rigid training for heavy-duty machine operators, fully sponsored by the BK Group of Companies.

The graduation ceremony, which was held at the company’s Water Street office was attended by Commissioner of Police, Mr Seelall Persaud; Assistant Commissioner, Operations, Mr David Ramnarine; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Mr Patrick Findlay; Chairman of the Joint Services Training Committee, Mr Enoch Gaskin; Chairman of the Board of Industrial Training, Mr Clinton Williams; and head of BK International, Mr Brian Tiwarie.
Speaking on behalf of the company was its Public Relations Consultant Alex Graham who outlined the work the company has been doing as part of its social responsibility.
He stated that the skills acquired by the young men were very critical and would serve them, their families, agencies and country by extension. Graham pointed out that Guyana’s growth will not happen without utilizing skills such as the ones the men recently acquired.
BK International considered it a privilege to be collaborating with the Board of Industrial Training of the Ministry of Labour, the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force to provide the 248 hours of training for the servicemen.
Reading from a prepared speech, Graham disclosed that it is the company’s intention to continue doing training and apprenticeship programmes in the areas of tourism, heavy duty machine operations, occupational health and safety and other areas while committing to working with the government, non-governmental organizations and private sector bodies to make that a reality.
Such an approach, Graham noted, will see the acquisition of critical skills by young people who will then be able to participate in national development while experiencing personal growth.
At the moment, the company is working with the Sentence Management Board of the Guyana Prison Service where they are providing apprenticeship courses for inmates. During the period of the training, the inmates would be earning and when they are released from the facility, they will be able to leave with the accumulated savings along with their skills.
The programme is restricted to the Mazaruni Prison since the company is looking to provide the service in the area where its operations are based.
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Persaud in his address stated that in the security arrangements for the upcoming elections training has been a main point of focus and preparation. He said that based on assessments in the past they have been able to determine that whenever there are public order issues, members of the public would block carriageways and roads with heavy pieces of debris and other objects.
The challenge for the police force was getting heavy duty machinery to remove the blockages and finding persons to operate the equipment in situations with protesters who are not necessarily calm.
Commissioner Seelall contended that the training therefore was specifically to address that issue even as he expressed optimism in the GDF and GPF retaining the services of the recently graduated ranks.
He said, however, if it so happens that the two organizations lose the services of the men then the skills would still be available to the country. He then expressed thanks on behalf of the joint services to BK International.
Meanwhile, Clinton Williams said that without the technical skills the country will go nowhere and as long as the Industrial Board remains vibrant they will continue to support such programmes and keep training young people to make them relevant and valuable.
By Leroy Smith