A FINAL batch of 107 persons in Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) has gained the essential skills to become employable.

This is through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) that held a graduation ceremony at Watooka Guest House on April 21, 2023.

According to BIT, the occasion also marks the final batch of beneficiaries to be certified out of 504 Lindeners seeking empowerment from the agency in 2022.

This group was taught Garment Construction, Computer Servicing and Repairs, Electrical Installation, General Building Construction, Small Engine Repairs, Photovoltaic Installation and Repairs, and Commercial Food Preparation.

It was made possible through a collaboration between the agency and the Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists for the Linden Entrepreneurial Network of Seventh-day Adventists (L.E.N.SA) training programme.

The partnership aims to provide training and skill development through competency-based training, resulting in the strengthening of interpersonal and professional skills required to promote service efficiency, increase employment prospects, and reduce crime in the region.

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton; Pastor Jumoul Sancho, Executive Secretary of the Guyana Conference of Seven-day Adventists; Board of Industrial Training, Board Member, Michael Turner; Senior Technical Officer, Leon Greaves; Technical Officer, Tenesha Dennis were in attendance at the ceremony.

Officials offered words of encouragement and thanked the graduates for choosing to empower themselves through skills training. The ministry intends to expend $66 million in 2023 to continue providing hard and soft skills training initiatives in the region.