Building Bartica through technical training

― 77 Barticans now BIT certified

DPI, Guyana, Thursday, October 31, 2019

Opening doors and empowering persons are just some of the descriptions attributed to programmes under the Board of Industrial Training (BIT). Seventy-seven (77) students in Bartica are among the recent batch to have received training from BIT

It was not all smooth sailing for 37-year old Shinay Bacchus when she enrolled in the 6-month catering course. However, she held her head high and faced the challenges. Now, a proud Bacchus plans to establish her restaurant in the future, using the knowledge she acquired from the Board of Industrial Training to propel her newfound entrepreneurship skill.

“It was tough for me because my mom passed and it was really hard because losing someone so dear to you, it was troubling but through it all, I am here… I love to cook, I love to turn things from nothing to something,” Bacchus said.

Meanwhile, Emanuella Belle, a welder who works in the hinterland, said from the moment she heard of the Heavy Duty Operating programme being offered through BIT, she knew it was an opportunity to certify her trade.

“I am a trades woman, I am a welder, and I work a lot in the interior so now and again I would get the feel of the machine so when I heard of the programme I joined to gain the experience more on a professional level and to become certified.”

In his address to the gathering at the graduation ceremony on Wednesday, BIT Chairman, Clinton Williams highlighted them plans the semi-autonomous agency is currently working on.

“We are in the process of now finalising three additional boat building projects to be funded by Exxon Mobil… we will also be implementing another programme called Skills for the Green Economy, better known as “SAGE and it will be financed by the Canadians.”

Williams noted that between 2017 – 2019, more than 130 persons were trained in various discipline, through intensified delivery of technical-vocational training, to address the demand for skills needed in existing and emerging industries, such as oil and gas, clean energy, agro-processing among others.

The chairman further disclosed that measures would be put in place to establish a technical institute for Bartica by 2020. He stressed that, with an emerging labour industry, it is vital that every region invests in specialised training equipped with facilities to carry out training.

Mayor of Bartica, His Worship, Gifford Marshall mentioned that the Board of Industrial Training is positively investing in Bartica. He cited the intervention of an electrical installation programme which has seen more youths in the town qualified and employed.

“Electrical Installation will impact our service industry. Over the years, that is one area that we would have suffered, where just two or three persons were specialised in that trade. The foundation is already laid thanks to BIT and with that said several other agencies will work along with the graduates, ensuring their service will be delivered to Bartica and the whole of region seven,” the mayor stated.

It is estimated that by the end of 2020, approximately 25,000 persons would become beneficiaries through the Board of Industrial Training programmes.

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