THE Board of Industrial Training (BIT), in collaboration with the Guyana Forestry Commission, graduated 132 individuals in four related course areas under the National Training Project for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE).The ceremony was held yesterday, in the Forestry Commission’s Conference Room, and Assistant Commissioner of Forest, Gavin Agard, who delivered the feature address, called for the graduands to use the training as a platform to do more.

“You can be whatever you want to be,” he said, reflecting on his days as a student.

Agard pointed out that the Natural Resources sector has a “strong need” for the skills the graduates possess, and maintained that in using their training as a platform, they must not limit themselves.

“Build on what lies beneath the surface, your inner qualities,” he said.

The Assistant Commissioner also called on the graduands to make a real effort to remain informed, pointing to the Internet as a minefield of information.

“This is the next step for you, a new frontier, a new stage in your life…the empowerment of youth is our first step,” he said.
According to Agard, the training was a strategic plan rolled out to ensure that young people have an opportunity to enter a new sector.

“Today’s initiative is one of many we are looking to do, in terms of empowering our future leaders,” Agard said.

Also addressing the graduands was Director of the Forest Training Centre (FTC), Godfrey Marshall, who explained that, following talks with BIT in February, the programme was launched in July.
He pointed out that the response was overwhelming, and some 114 applications were deferred to 2014, while, of the 187 who were considered, over 50 dropped out.

Marshall called for employers in the forestry sector to consider the input of females in the sector, particularly given that 50 per cent of those in the last programme were women.

The FTC Director added that the other stakeholders are expected to be engaged to enhance the training programme.

He expressed his appreciation for the support of the BIT Directors, and called for deeper collaboration going forward.

BIT Vice Chairman Mr Nowrang Persaud, responded that: “The field is wide open, the challenge is there, and the support from Government is there.” He stressed that the training responds to a real need seen in advancing development initiatives in Guyana, and said that, at the same time, it empowers more and more Guyanese.

According to Persaud, the Board’s success lies in its viability, and in collaboration with partnering agencies to develop the local human resource capacity.

Recent graduation ceremonies were also held at the National Cultural Centre in Region 4 (Demerara/ Mahaica); Leonora in Region 3(Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara); Bartica in Region 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni); Linden in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice), and on the Essequibo Coast in Region 2 (Pomeroon/ Supenaam).

President Donald Ramotar has hailed the BIT programmes as important, since Guyana depends on the graduates’ skills to support Guyana’s social and economic advancement, and fight against unemployment and poverty.
Written By Vanessa Narine