GuySuCo graduates 51 apprentices
DPI, Guyana, Friday, July 5, 2019
Fifty-one apprentices, including a lone young woman, graduated yesterday from the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo), Port Mourant Training School. The class of 2019 obtained 52 Distinctions and 65 Credits
Their training included both the practical and theory in fields such as Auto Electrical training, Instrument Repair Mechanics and Sugar Boiling.
The institution located in East Berbice Corentyne conducted its 58th graduation exercise on July 3 which was attended by the Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, regional officials and several senior representatives from the sugar industry including its CEO, Dr. Harold Davis.
Minister Henry in her feature address described the school as the “premier technical and vocational training centre in Guyana”. She urged the graduates to take their rightful place in the various local industries. “The training centre here continues to produce high-quality technical support staff for GuySuCo itself and for other industries in our country.” The Minister noted that graduates from the school can be found throughout the Caribbean, North America, Europe, Africa which is “testimony to the success of Port Mourant Training Centre.”
“Graduating from this school is provides you with the skills and knowledge for the world of work. There is a road ahead that you can turn into opportunity. Give back to your communities,” she further urged the class 2019.
Noting that the skills they have acquired during their four years at the Port Mourant Training Centre will now be put into practice, Dr. Henry advised the graduates to “carefully and critically strategise the skills and knowledge you have acquired…capitalise on this knowledge and the opportunities now presented to you. Undoubtedly is the ultimate aim of the Ministry of Education, to ensure that all of our citizens are equipped with all resources and knowledge to be a successful individual.”
Valedictorian Michael Manroop, in his address, acknowledged the lecturers and fellow students along with his parents for the major role they played in his success. His achievement came with many challenges, difficulties and sacrifices he noted. An overwhelmed Monroop encouraged his fellow apprentices to keep striving for higher heights.
In his report, Manager of the school, Jainarine Sookpaul, noted that lecturers have continued their professional improvement with Jai Raj Narayan recently completing a diploma in Technical Teachers Training at the Cyril Potter College of Education, Reuel Jagroop an Advanced Diploma in Electrical Engineering with the Engineering Institute of Technology Australia and Devendra Singh who is on the verge of completing his degree in General Engineering at the University of Guyana.
Sookpaul also highlighted that with the ongoing changes at the Guyana Sugar Cooperation the re-engineering of the apprenticeship programme was evident. The curriculum is currently being reviewed to include co-generation, plantation white sugar and mechanization.
According to Sookpaul the GuySuCo Training Centre’s vision “advocates a vibrant community of active and lifelong learners who are equipped with a strong foundation of core skills, attitudes and values to ride on the opportunities and possibilities in the 21st century globalized world.” Sookpaul highlighted that moving forward in 2019 the school will continue to grow and achieve outstanding performances in the years ahead.
Images Tanuja Raikha