— Initiatives empower communities and boost employment opportunities across Region Four

NINETY-ONE individuals on Friday celebrated their successful completion of several technical and vocational training programmes offered through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) at the Beterverwagting Practical Instruction Centre (BV-PIC) and the Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (GCSDA) Life Hope Centre.

The training, launched as part of the Government of Guyana’s ongoing commitment to skills development, aims to empower communities and expand employment opportunities by equipping citizens with practical competencies for today’s evolving workforce.

Through the GCSDA-Life Hope Centre, 18 participants completed the Commercial Food Preparation course, while at the BV-PIC, four distinct programmes were conducted between May and October this year. These included Commercial Food Preparation (21 graduates), Agro-processing (19 graduates), Furniture Making (16 graduates), and Information Technology (17 graduates).

During his address to the new graduates, Chief Executive Officer of BIT, Richard Maughn, commended their dedication and resilience, describing the ceremony as both an ending and a new beginning. “For some, this certificate represents their determination for self-growth and development,” Maughn said. “Their stories speak to Government’s bold investment in empowering Guyanese with the skills needed in today’s evolving world.”

Over the last five years, more than 15,000 persons across Guyana have benefitted from BIT’s training initiatives. In Region Four alone, the programmes have positively impacted 4,571 persons, including the 91 graduates who received certification on Friday. A total of GY$310.7 million was invested in training along the East Coast Demerara corridor, benefiting 943 individuals.

Maughn noted that each graduate represents a personal story of perseverance and transformation, not just a number in a report. Emphasising the importance of applying the skills learned, he urged them to uphold a standard of excellence and humility in their professional journeys.

Quoting his personal mantra, “Train to work effectively. Empower to serve with substance and humility,” Maughn reminded graduates that success goes beyond technical proficiency. “People want you to be effective. When you are effective, you add to productivity in the world of work,” he said. “Show up and show up to serve. Whatever your hands find to do—whether it’s catering, joinery, information technology, or agro-processing—do it to the best of your ability.”

To ensure that participants continue to benefit from their new qualifications, Maughn announced that the Monitoring and Evaluation Department will follow up with graduates in the coming months to assess how they are applying their skills in the workforce.

The graduation ceremony marked yet another milestone in BIT’s mission to create an inclusive and skilled workforce that drives Guyana’s socio-economic transformation.