MINISTER of Natural Resources, the Hon Raphael Trotman, on January 31 assured Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) youth that the government, “is more about action and finding ways of serving and building them, and ensuring they are marketable and ready to serve.”

Minister Trotman made these remarks at the launching of the Guyana Mining School and Training Centre Incorporated Mineral Prospecting and Map Reading Level 1 Course at the Linden Technical Institute. The course is being conducted in collaboration with Technical and Vocational Education and Training registered national technical institutions.
He urged the youths to recognise that opportunities are available, adding that these are not favours of the government, but a fulfilment of its duty and commitment to building capacity and ensuring that every citizen has equitable access. He encouraged all stakeholders to apply themselves, “in the many ways that the course will require.”

This is the first of several collaborative efforts among the ministry,the Mining School, the Linden Technical Institute and other technical institutions to increase the reach of persons accessing the training products of the school.

Minister Trotman lauded Chairman of the Mining School Audwin Rutherford and Administrator/Coordinator John Applewhaite for facilitating the course. He reminded the audience that Linden is indeed the gateway to Guyana’s wealth and pressed for establishment of a branch of the mining school in the mining town by the end of 2019 to serve not only Linden, Kwakwani and Ituni, but also communities in Regions Seven, Eight and Nine. This branch, he posited, will work along with the Linden Technical Institute.

The course will run from January 31-February 22, 2019 and with 75 participants from Linden, Kwakwani and Ituni. It will cover topics on operational safety and health, mining and environmental regulations, applying for exploration and mining permits, mineralisation and topographic map interpretations, use of navigation instruments, and basic mineral prospecting. It has two levels of certification and participants will move on after successfully completing each level.