— Minister Hughes urges students at career fair

STUDENTS are being encouraged to seize the opportunities that are in the new and emerging sectors in Guyana. Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes made this call as she gave the charge to Grade Nine students attending St Rose’s High School Career Fair.

“You must be the future petroleum engineers, our apps developers, the developers of technology that will develop our oil and gas industry – the technology that will be required to transform our agriculture sector into an E-agricultural sector that young people would be interested in developing businesses in,” she told the students gathered.

Minister Hughes noted that while the students may have aspirations to join existing professions, the times were changing, and new opportunities were emerging.

“In today’s world, the technology is changing so rapidly that the careers that will exist in the next two or three years don’t necessarily exist today,” she said, adding that for Guyana to continue advancing, it needs the talents of its young people.

“You are the chosen generation, a generation of proud capable Guyanese. We in Guyana have been bestowed, as a country, with even more natural resources than we knew we had, so we have been truly blessed; so Guyana has this awesome opportunity to truly transform itself into one of the finest countries in the world, but we cannot do this without you, each and every young Guyanese here and wherever you are.”

The students were also asked to consider volunteerism as a means of gaining experience in the various fields and urged to always adopt the correct attitude towards success.

“Find what you love to do, never underestimate your ability to achieve your dreams through the strength of character, honesty, integrity, perseverance – those old fashion values which still work in today’s world,” Minister Hughes advised.

Representing the Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency was Dr. Astell Collins, a renowned youth leader who left the students with some sage advice.
“There are students who may not be academically inclined, but they are still necessary to the development of Guyana, so some of you might not do good in a particular subject or a particular class, it does not diminish who you are.”

The event was planned to help Grade Nine students connect with their future and plan ahead. Agencies such as the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Guyana Police Force and the Government Technical Institute, among others, participated in the career fair. The GRA also donated a total of thirty computers to the school.

(DPI)