TWENTY-seven youths have been trained to operate heavy-duty equipment as part of a Board of Industrial Training (BIT) programme.The Heavy-duty Equipment Programme, which forms part of the National Training Programme for Youth Empowerment, was facilitated by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) and the Ministry of Social Protection, in collaboration with the Ministry of the Presidency – Office of Youth Empowerment.

In delivering the feature address during the closing ceremony, Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence said the programme was designed with two primary objectives. “This initiative had a dual purpose; in the light of the increased demand for skilled heavy-duty equipment operators and the scarcity or complete absence of trained operators within all the administrative regions, the intention was to provide the opportunity for numerous young people to acquire skills that will make them employable in their respective regions and thereafter to be attached to the relevant ministries or transition to other areas to fulfill this need,” Minister Lawrence explained.

According to the minister, who also has responsibility for the Department of Labour, BIT has been sensitive to the needs of the job market. “BIT has embarked on programmes which are interspersed with practical content akin to the “incubation” period, at the end of which youths are provided with a pathway that can lead to the ownership of their own businesses,” Minister Lawrence further explained.

The BIT programme was initiated in 2013 based on a request from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO), which at the time has lost the majority of its graduates to the Mining Sector.

However, through the BIT programme, the numbers have increased significantly and many other sectors such as forestry and public infrastructure have benefitted from this expansion. To date, more than 350 youths have been trained through the BIT initiative. An additional 30 is being trained in Mahdia.

“No doubt, we must raise our hats to the Board of Industrial Training for its foresight and commitment to the development of our youth through its programmes which are affordable, (and) provide adequate practice time and exposure to quality training,” the Social Protection Minister posited.
She stated that as the country strives for economic sustainability, it is imperative that standards are established through the continuous training and education.

Just last week the Ministry of Social Protection, in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Population Fund convened a high level policy dialogue in an effort to craft programming for the advancement of adolescents and youths. Government, Minister Lawrence said, is cognizant of the issues affecting youths, and is currently working to address them in order to harness and utilise their full potential.

Also delivering remarks at the closing ceremony was the chairman of BIT, Clinton Williams. Williams, in his remarks, explained that operators were drawn from five administrative regions to participate in the three months training programme. According to him, BIT plans to train 135 persons in 2016 and 300 in 2017.

For the Guyana Police Force, 72 officers have already been trained in Region 4 as assessors and 10 in Region 7. It was also noted that soon, similar training will be conducted in Region 6.

The closing ceremony was also attended by Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott.