– becomes country’s first certified electrical inspector

By Nafeeza Yahya-Sakur

ARMED with two screwdrivers, two pliers and a tester in a small pouch, Samantha Black-Griffith, then 19, set out to make a name for herself in a field dominated by males. Today, 21 years later, she is the only certified female electrical inspector in Guyana, a title she was conferred via a letter about a month ago.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, an elated Black-Griffith said choosing a career in a trade was the best decision she’s ever made, and is encouraging others, especially women, to follow suit as it makes it easier to land a job.

“This is a really proud moment for me, because I did not really expect it. I wouldn’t trade my career for anything; it is a very interesting field, and I keep encouraging young persons, especially women to don’t only go for the academics. Learn a skill; it is something very important. You can always find work. If you are equipped with a skill, around the corner you can always find employment,” she said.

Reminiscing on her early days, Black-Griffith recalled she was given a monetary gift after writing CXC to purchase a typewriter to follow in the footsteps of her mother, who taught shorthand and typing.

She laughed as she related she bought a bicycle instead, and said she will ride to the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) to do a secretarial course.

As fate would have it, when she applied to NATI, the course was filled, and so, without consulting anyone, she applied for the electrical installation course, following in her brother’s footsteps, who was an apprentice at the time.

Being the lone female in the class, and having to compete with males, she had to work twice as hard to be taken seriously. Thankfully, she had her brother, who provided guidance and support, as well as an avenue to put her skills to work.

“Sometimes, when he comes from work, people would bring their iron, fan, or fairy lights to check, but he would leave to partake in a game of afternoon football, so I would sit down, open it, check it and fix it, and ensure it would work and return it. So when people would see my brother, they would tell him thanks, and he would be for what. He had no idea what he was being thanked for,” said Black-Griffith.

She started working at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) as an electrician assistant in 1997. Then she was given a pair of pliers and screwdrivers, as well as an electrical tester in a small bag by her brother as a gift when she got her job after graduating from NATI. That year, she went back to NATI to do an advanced technician course, as well as an electronics course. By 2015, she was confirmed as an electrician.

She is the holder of a Diploma in Public Management and she is currently pursuing a degree in the field.

Being diligent and meticulous at her job, she earned the title of ‘Hard Lady’ for her firm stance on even the smallest of infractions.

This, she explained, if overlooked, can lead to short-circuit and fires.

“One of the things that amaze me is that the way that some men or contractors would look at you like, where this woman going. In my area, sometimes, people would call me ‘the Hard Lady’, but it’s not that I am a hard lady. The electrical sector is one that is very serious. When we look at some of the fires that are electrical related, in some of the cases, it is unsafe wiring. Sometimes when contractors make an application for inspection, they get scared when we arrive, because they say is every little thing we looking into but we have to because of safety,” the seasoned electrician said.

The mother of three, who hails from New Amsterdam, East Berbice, is appealing to women to break the stereotype that women are only fit for certain jobs.

She noted that she did it with the support of her family, and is also urging families to do the same for their womenfolk, when they decide to venture into unchartered waters.

“I had wanted to become a seamstress earlier on in my life, but I’m happy I did not. My family supported me; now I cannot imagine doing anything else. Women are capable of doing anything; you just need to apply yourself and you can make it happen,” Black-Griffith said.