APPROXIMATELY 40 women from Regions Seven and Nine successfully completed training at the Atlantic Alliance Maritime and Offshore Training Institute, through a scholarship programme introduced by the Office of the First Lady last year.

On Friday evening, a graduation ceremony took place at State House, where First Lady, Mrs Arya Ali, delivered remarks.
In her brief speech to the women, the First Lady invited the graduates to reflect on their journey, rich with triumphs and challenges, laughter and learning.

“The 40 of you graduating this evening, join 20 women from Region One who completed this training last year when we launched this programme. In the coming weeks, another 40 women from other Hinterland Regions will benefit from this programme, bringing the total to 100.
“When I designed this scholarship programme just over a year ago, I was intentional about it. I wanted to provide technical specialised training, aligned with the developmental needs of our country, and to offer this opportunity to Guyanese from Hinterland communities who face barriers in accessing such training,” Mrs Ali said.

Her aim is to make it a gender specific programme, addressing the significant under-representation of women in the labour force, specifically in sectors such as oil and gas, construction, shipping and logistics. She revealed that according to recent data, the labour force participation rate for women is around 50 per cent compared to the 80 per cent for men.
Women make up less than two per cent of the global seafare workforce, about 20 per cent of the oil and gas work force globally and 23 per cent of the transportation and logistics workforce, according to the World Bank.
To the graduates, the First Lady said, “In none of these scenarios do women account for even a quarter of the workforce, and as women we must always be conscious of these statistics and strive earnestly to level the playing field regardless of how daunting the task seems. The STCW and Ship Security Awareness courses, both of which you have successfully completed, empower you to do just that.

“Enter these male dominated industries and increase the participation of women in areas historically dominated by men. Our choices of these courses was also intentional. Based on compelling data presented in the Guyana Skilled Labour assessment study recently conducted by the Centre of Local Business Development.”
This study shows that in the next five years, Guyana’s oil and gas, construction, transportation and logistics, health and agriculture sectors, will need an additional 53,000 women workers in these sectors, with the oil and has sector requiring over 6,000 women and transport and logistics needing nearly 5,000.

First Lady Ali expressed, “That is why training like these are important; because they serve a national purpose. You must also appreciate the fact that in the coming years, you will no longer be competing only with Guyanese for specific categories or jobs. As our country becomes a more attractive place to live and work, competition in the labour market will naturally increase, attracting labour migrants from all over the world.”
Holding these regionally accredited certifications in two distinct areas of safety practices places graduates ahead of the curve.

“You have a head start, and while it certainly is a cause for celebration, it is also cause for action on your part. You must recognise and capitalise on this advantage ahead of those who will be scouting for opportunities in Guyana in the coming years. I implore you this evening, to use this certificate as a stepping stone to greater heights,” she said.

The First Lady encouraged, “Today is not an end, but a new beginning, where your dreams and aspirations are set to take flight. As you stand on the threshold of your future, and that of our beautiful country, embrace it with confidence and courage knowing you have already taken a giant step in that direction.”

The Maritime Institution provides unique training programmes which focus on teaching practical skills to both local and international students through a blended approach. The School’s courses are accredited by Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ).

The institution comprises 20 classrooms with digital and in-house libraries, augmented reality simulators and technical workshop facilities. It also intends to begin issuing certification for TVET welding and fabrication courses which will be certified by the American Welding Society (AWS).