Local women engineers delivering concrete results

DPI, Guyana, Thursday, March 7, 2019

When it comes to the construction of critical sea defences, the creation of access roads to hinterland communities for farmers to transport their produce, or the undertaking of small to large construction projects, the female engineers within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure remain critical assets.

Three distinguished engineers attached to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure provided the Department of Public Information (DPI) with an interview to share their experiences on a profession that is typically associated with men.

Engineer Denita Crandon relayed the defining moment as a child when she decided that engineering was the path that she would pursue. “I liked drawing [architectural] plans because my father taught us how to read plans at an early age. It was very exciting. However, it was in Fourth Form when I was in the tech stream, that I realised that engineering was actually what I wanted to do”

Her colleague Kimberly Charles emphasised the importance of a family support system to persevere in the field. “When I applied at TI [Guyana Technical Institute], I had no experience. It was kind of tough, even though at the time I was technically an adult, my mother went in with me, sat down and asked all the relevant questions,” Charles explained

For Carissa Goodings a sound academic background is a necessity to advancing in the field.  “If you don’t have the science subjects, but you have your Mathematics and English, you can actually go to TI [Guyana Technical Institute] first to learn the trade, to understand that this is what you really want to do and after you head on to UG where you can read for your degree in Civil Engineering,” she explained.

While admitting that there are stereotypical perceptions of women in engineering, Crandon had encouraging words for women who may be considering the field. “You might meet some challenges along the way. Some persons might say you can’t do it, but the key to success is to keep striving.”

Shaquille Bourne.

Images: Marciano Narine.