FIFTY-FIVE young men and women, on Wednesday, celebrated after successfully completing skills training programmes under the National Training Project for Youth Empowerment, spearheaded by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) in collaboration with the Leonora Technical and Vocational Training Centre (LTVTC) and the Sabeelur Islamic Training Centre (SITC).

The graduates completed competency-based courses in Information Technology (20 participants), Data Operations (20), and General Office Administration (15)—programmes designed to enhance employability, productivity, and adaptability in Guyana’s evolving job market.

The graduation ceremony, held at the Leonora Technical and Vocational Training Centre, was attended by several officials, including Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith; BIT’s CEO and Executive Secretary, Mr. Richard Maughn; Regional Vice-Chairman, Ms. Anjanie Narine; LTVTC’s Administrator, Mr. Mark Adams; SITC’s Principal, Mr. Rayad Khan; and Head of the Region Three Private Sector Inc. (R3PSInc), Mr. Halim Khan, among others.

In his remarks, BIT’s CEO, Mr. Maughn, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to making technical and vocational education accessible to every Guyanese.

“Over the last five years, we have invested in the lives of individuals across every region, sub-region, hill, valley, and riverine community,” he said. “That impact is only possible because the Government of Guyana is intentional in ensuring that resources are made available for the development of our people.”

Delivering the feature address, Minister Griffith praised the initiative as a cornerstone of Guyana’s national development strategy. He highlighted that BIT’s training programmes are now being implemented across all ten administrative regions, ensuring that young people everywhere benefit from sustainable and inclusive development.

“For Region Three alone, over the last five years, we have implemented 97 projects, benefitting 1,696 individuals—794 males and 902 females—through an investment of $141.6 million,” Minister Griffith stated. “These achievements go beyond numbers; they represent enriched families, stronger households, and more resilient communities.”

He emphasised that the programmes are preparing participants for a range of professional pathways. “This training has fostered employability, professionalism, and adaptability to evolving workplace technologies,” the Minister said. “We want to see not only contractors and entrepreneurs, but also skilled professionals who can operate within offices, build consultancies, and strengthen administration across Guyana.”

The Minister encouraged graduates to seize the opportunities before them, asserting that the Government continues to invest in both white- and blue-collar development to ensure all citizens can contribute to national progress.

The event concluded with the presentation of certificates to the successful trainees—the second batch of graduates from the BIT-LTVTC-SITC collaboration.

Speaking on the sidelines, Mr. Halim Khan, Head of the Region Three Private Sector Inc. (R3PSInc), commended the initiative, noting its alignment with the region’s growing economic potential.

“These initiatives directly complement Region Three’s economic expansion and align with the private sector’s drive for a more skilled, competitive, and innovative workforce,” Khan said. “As new industries emerge, collaboration between government, training institutions, and the private sector is essential to ensure that our young people are equipped to seize the many opportunities ahead. We stand ready to partner in creating pathways from training to employment so that every graduate can actively contribute to the region’s transformation.”