MINISTER of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, has disclosed that approximately $18.5 million in skills training will be done in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) under the Board of Industrial Training (BIT).

During a a two-day outreach in the region, Hamilton said the BIT committed $365 million to train over 2,900 persons in 2021; he explained that 16 skills training programmes have been approved for Region Two and will be spread out in almost all the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) and Indigenous communities of the region.

Persons living in the Evergreen Paradise NDC will benefit from catering and cake decoration, while the Pomona Women and Youth organsation will be involved in cake decoration. Young people in the Charity NDC will be involved in cosmetology, introduction to agro-processing technologies, and garment construction, while residents of Wakapoa will benefit from general building construction training.

St Denys Mission at Tapakuma will be involved in the introduction of photovoltaic maintenance and repairs (solar installation) and residents of Capoey Village will be trained in shade house gardening. All the materials and resources for the training will be provided by the BIT. The participants will also receive $6,000 traveling allowance during the programmes.

Minister Hamilton, therefore, said that BIT is collaborating with youth groups, religious organisations and technical institutes to execute the programmes.

He noted that seven programmes will be done at the Essequibo Technical Institute (ETI) and will include data operations, electrical installation, general building construction, introduction to heavy equipment maintenance operation, office administration, welding and fabrication and refrigeration, and air conditioner repairs.

Minister Hamilton said that the BIT has successfully hosted several programmes already and, so, he is urging persons to come on board and learn a skill that can transform their lives.
He also said that plans are in place for Region Two to get its own Labour Officer.