THE Board of Industrial Training (BIT), operating under the Ministry of Labour, unveiled four innovative technical and vocational training programs on Friday. Aimed at broadening the skill set of young individuals in Guyana, these programs are part of the government’s commitment to investing in the country’s human capital.

The programmes have attracted approximately 43 participants from the community of Kitty, Georgetown, and neighboring areas, including four females. These programmes are free, and are the first set to be launched for this year. These programmes are: Heavy Duty Equipment Operaton; Welding and Fabrication; Electrical Engineering and Plumbing.

Each programme has a four-to-six-months duration period.

In his remarks, Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton advised students that success can only be achieved through sacrifice and discipline.

“You can dream how much you want, about being successful. If you don’t sacrifice, and if you don’t have discipline, it’s not that you will fail, you’ve already failed,” he said.

Minister Hamilton declared that in the past year, they have expanded their training programme to include not only excavator usage, but also forklift training and access to a powerful frontend loader in Linden, Region 10. The inclusion of tractor training has been implemented in agricultural areas.

He noted, “People in this programme now, in the last year, they have moved from being trained on two pieces of equipment, to now being trained on five pieces of equipment. Importantly, we work with the police to ensure that you are licensed. Because with all the training, you are at no place, if you don’t have a licence.”

In the meantime, Minister Charles Ramson, responsible for Culture, Youth, and Sport, expressed to the young individuals that this moment marked the commencement of a new journey for them.

He conveyed to them that in order to reach the better future they seek, they must intensify their efforts and take full advantage of the opportunity they have been given.

Minister Ramson stated, “You have to see that the hand of time is pointing in a more progressive direction; In the sense that the future is brighter.”

The minister remarked, “This programme is a short programme, which means that you don’t have time to make mistakes.”

He urged them to remain focused on their goals as much as possible, as ‘slacking off’ does not show itself in the moment. He said, “Those little actions are defused. Its invisible, but it cumulative. It’s cumulative, so it compounds… It shows up at the end.”

Adding to what Minister Ramson said, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy shared, “This is your moment, and whatever you do with this opportunity will define how you move forward.”
Minister McCoy underscored the importance of this opportunity for personal improvement, family pride, community triumph, and national success.

He said, “We are adding, every single day, more and more skills to our national pool, that we are directing our young people in the right way to be able to maximise on the opportunities for wealth, development and growth.”
Minister McCoy emphasised the importance of perseverance, stating that it is not easy, but individuals must remain committed to their goals and objectives despite challenges.

In the same vein as Minister Ramson, he urged them to stay determined and possess the strength to overcome any hurdles that may obstruct their path.

The minister made a statement affirming their determination to carry out the task, regardless of any external pressures. “The will is that, if I am going to do it, and I will do it, despite whatever the pressures may be, that I will do it.”

Furthermore, Richard Maughn, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BIT, expressed that governments across the globe face a challenging dilemma when determining how to allocate national resources.

He said, “They have that tough decision to make, and that is to invest in the people of the country. Vocational education is a form of investment in the people of any country.

“The government of Guyana has made a wise and deliberate decision to invest in the people of the country, and hence, over the years, they have been making available finances for the Board of Industrial Training to implement training programmes that will benefit the citizens of our country.”

Maughn expressed his satisfaction with the citizens of Guyana embracing the opportunities provided by the government to enhance their skills and become valuable contributors to the workforce.