YOUNG Guyanese with ambitions of working in aviation are now benefitting from easier access to specialised training through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), as the government continues to expand technical and vocational education opportunities.
The initiative is the result of a collaboration between the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning, BIT, and the Art Williams & Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School.
The programme equips participants with aircraft maintenance and foundation skills, providing a pathway into one of the country’s growing technical industries.
At a recent graduation ceremony, several beneficiaries spoke about the impact of the training.
Maria Prince said the opportunity came unexpectedly after she initially enrolled in a different programme.
“I had signed up for the welding programme, and BIT introduced me to this programme,” she explained.
She described the experience as both rewarding and empowering, explaining that “I am feeling very ecstatic and very blessed to have been given this opportunity. I’d advise everyone in Guyana to take advantage of the opportunities being given by the government”.
Prince said, “I can also show young girls that they can be in this field and not be afraid to step into it because it is male-dominated”.
Fellow graduate Cynthia Paul said the programme allowed her to pursue a long-held ambition.
“I would like to thank the government for giving me this opportunity to pursue a goal that has been a dream of mine for a long time. This experience has been truly rewarding and memorable. I have gained so much insight into the field of aviation, and I am truly grateful. I am filled with immense joy and happiness,” she said.
For Samantha Odhoo, the training represented the fulfilment of a childhood passion.
“It is really life-changing. Growing up as a female, I was always interested in aviation, and I always had something to do with planes,” she said ecstatically.
She urged other women to pursue careers in the sector.
“I will encourage females not to be afraid. Just step out. It doesn’t matter,” she said.
Rivaldo Williams, who had dreamed of becoming an aircraft maintenance technician since high school, said the programme had helped him achieve an important milestone.
He said, “When I found out about this programme, I was still in high school, and I thought, why not give it a shot. Even though I didn’t have my CSEC grades in subjects like Mathematics and Physics at the time, I still tried, and today I am graduating.”
Williams also encouraged other young people to make use of government-funded training opportunities.
“Young people should take the opportunities being given by the Government of Guyana and make the most of them,” he said.
The collaboration forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen technical education and develop a skilled workforce capable of supporting Guyana’s expanding aviation and industrial sectors. [DPI]
