ONE hundred and twenty-six young people from the bauxite community of Linden graduated on Friday from the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) in four technical courses – electrical installation, welding and fabrication, heavy-duty equipment operation and motor vehicle repairs.

This training is part of the National Training Project for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE) programme. Chief Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Officer at the Ministry of Social Protection, Charles Ogle said that the government through BIT continues to embark on these training programmes to empower youths.

“It is the belief of the Ministry, that youths are the future and that each generation should do its utmost to see that the next generation is better off than the one before. It is important to note that when we invest in youths, we make an investment in Guyana and are brightening the future for our children ….”

BIT offers a variety of training programmes to meet the demands of the particular skill set of the region. In Linden, youths gravitate toward skill sets required in the mining sector. The government, Ogle said, will continue to aid in propelling the young people and urged the graduates to use their knowledge to become positive contributors to society. This knowledge, however, he posited must be coupled with soft skills and mannerisms.

“You must incorporate your basic moral compass and mannerism. Be honest, be kind, be respectful, be punctual etc. These are all attributes that will help to move you forward in all aspects of your life.” Additional practical encouragement was given by Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira who told the graduates “Do not see yourself as [just being] employable, see yourself as an employer. A lot of opportunities do exist, but it is for you to look where there is a lack in the community and provide that service, thereby becoming an employer, rather than an employee,” he said.

Of the graduates, 13.5 percent were females. The National Training Project for Youth Empowerment was established in 2005 and has since trained over 24,000 youths in Guyana. It is carried out in all ten regions and has enabled many of its graduates to gain meaningful employment.

CEO of BIT, Richard Maughn, related that at a previous BIT graduation in Linden, all 30 graduates are currently employed and following the completion of the latest programme for agro-processers, most of those graduates are now producers. Graduate Orlon Rogers, said that the journey throughout the months was hectic and there were many obstacles to overcome but he, along with his colleagues, weathered the storm. Rogers hopes to use the skills garnered in the oil and gas industry.

(DPI)