SEVENTY-FIVE Community Service Officers (CSOs), on Monday, completed a four-month skills-training programme organised by the Ministry of Labour’s Board of Industrial Training (BIT).

The programme, which was held at the Kuru Kuru Training Centre, saw CSOs from Regions One, Four, Seven, Eight and Nine completing training in tractor driving and maintenance.

At a small graduation ceremony, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs’ Permanent Secretary, Ryan Toolsiram, told the graduates that the efforts made by the sister ministries will equip them with the requisite skills training to make positive contributions to their respective villages.

“You the CSOs left your families [and]villages to improve your knowledge in technical vocational education and thanks to the Ministry of Labour, Board of Industrial Training, today, you are beneficiaries with the techniques needed to manoeuvre and maintain a tractor,” he said.

Toolsiram stated that, in 2013, the programe was implemented by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) with rising numbers of trainees in the following years.

It came to a halt in 2015 but was restarted in 2020, with a large number listed for 2022, he added.

The PS also mentioned that the Amerindian Affairs Ministry plans to collaborate with the Ministries of Agriculture and Human Service and Social Security with regards to offering more skills training for CSOs.

Meanwhile, BIT’s CEO, Richard Maughn, in his charge to the graduates, touched on some meaningful factors such as being committed to self-elevation and contributing to national development and their respective communities.

“Every one of you here today, must see yourselves as ambassadors for your region and serve the people in your communities. It should not just be about the money when using your skills but practise what you were taught to the best of your ability and be good examples to the young ones,” Maughn explained.

He said that in July 2021, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministers of Labour and Amerindian Affairs as a game changer to improve the lives of persons, specifically CSOs from the hinterland by training them in courses such as heavy duty equipment operation, ICT, tractor driving and maintenance, small engine repairs and solar installation.

The signed MoU will see 440 CSOs from hinterland communities receiving skills training. In addition to this month’s 75, 151 CSOs graduated in October 2021 and 63 in December 2021.