SOME 281 individuals graduated from several programmes being offered by the Ministry of Labour’s Board of Industrial Training (BIT). The graduation ceremony hosted on Friday at Outback Adventures in Canje, Berbice, Region Six saw graduates of all age groups.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) interviewed several middle-aged graduates who encouraged younger persons to take advantage of the courses. Forty-seven-year-old Jephthah Junor said the training programmes prepared persons with the necessary skills to enter the workforce.

“Well, I always wanted to learn bobcat operation along with excavator; it is something I always wanted to do. So here I have the opportunity; I told myself 47 is not too old, after all I still young. So, I took advantage of the opportunity and thankfully everything went well so far. In fact, I encourage any other person, do not be contented with just one certificate, try to get five or six or ten even because in that way you will be properly prepared for the market.”

Oneika Ramsuchit, a mother of three who has the skills, but was not accredited encouraged other women to be empowered by upskilling. “It is basically to be certified because like you would know people would say you have the skills and mindset but you don’t have the certificate to show you are qualified in this area. So having a certificate tells a lot, it gives you more power and, as a woman, I encourage persons like-minded to diversify your skills, be entrepreneurs for the younger girls and younger persons.

“Especially women, you should get up and get, diversify your skills and mindset so that today or tomorrow if something happened, you can be able to stand on your feet and feed your family because we women tend to be left with the family.”

Rodrick Ageday said the course provided him with the opportunity to upgrade his life. “I always wanted a certificate to upgrade myself in a better way that I could get a better money and establish to get a better job. I am trying to establish myself to get a job at the oil rig and do something better and upgrade more in the heavy-duty course,” he told DPI. Additionally, the programmes provided teens straight out of high school to advance their career goals.

Safiyyha Alli also expressed her love for machines. “Well, there are many courses available and I wanted to be a part of them. I intend to work because I love machines, so I will probably work at MACORP or one of the companies with machines.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, MP, highlighted that persons should be multi-skilled and multi-talented.

“You have to be multi-talented and multi-skilled. so, when a door is closed, you can walk into another door. So, the point is you have to be multi-talented and multi-skilled to ensure that you will always remain employable.

“Therefore, one of the things BIT must do is whilst you give skills to those who don’t have skills you have to ensure that those that already have a skill are accredited and certified because they will be displaced by foreigners. And we can go and cry as much as we want, that will not change the situation. What will change the situation is what we are doing here today.”