Bartica to get technical institute
DPI, Guyana, Friday, February 7, 2020
His Excellency President David Granger told a vibrant crowd on Friday evening that Bartica can expect the establishment of a technical institution when the Coalition Government is reelected after the March 2, 2020 elections.
“Bartica needs a technical institute to train the young people and boost the economy of this region and during our decade of development, Bartica will have its own technical institute to train young people,” he announced.
The Head of State was speaking at a rally held in the mining town of Bartica. During his address, he reiterated the importance of youth and youth development. He reminded the people of Bartica that it was the previous administration who dismantled the National Youth Service resulting in lack of opportunity for youth development and empowerment.
“In 2000, the PPP broke up the National Service but I set it back up. The Youth Corps is in service and young people can go into the core so they can be trained to get jobs.”
President Granger highlighted that since assuming office, youth development and empowerment has been high on the Coalition agenda. This is evident in the rolling out of the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) and Hinterland Employment Youth Service (HEYS) programmes.
“We have started to give people not a handout but a heads up so they can get their own enterprises running,” President Granger remarked.
Through these initiatives, the government was able to assist youths in establishing their own businesses thus empowering them to sustain themselves and, in some instances, employ other youths.
According to the Head of State over 2500 youths have benefitted from the HEYS programme and several billions of dollars have been distributed as grants to young people to get their businesses off the ground.
“You can’t run a government on spite, I will run this government on right and it is right to give employment to young people.”
During his presentation, the President also reiterated the Coalition’s commitment to ensuring every Guyanese citizen has a roof over their head. He noted that it is the vision of his administration to eliminate poverty and ensure persons don’t live “hand to mouth”.
He took the opportunity to assure miners that they need not fear as the Coalition is looking to promote small and medium scale mining and protect against “bullyism” in the industry.