More than just sugar…
GuySuCo Training Centre moulding lives
The Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) Training Centre (GTC) at Port Mourant, Corentyne has been moulding the lives of youths and adults since its establishment in 1957.
Providing skills that last a lifetime, GuySuCo is more than just sugar.
Mr. Intiaz Jaundoo is a current trainee at the GTC who sees a bright future ahead after completing his fitting machinist course. He is excited to work with “the sugar estates to improve their production rate, so we can earn a good amount from foreign buyers.”
In an interview with DPI, the young man said he has no regrets applying to the school. “All the people that I am working with and the staff, they are very co-operative, and the instructors are very knowledgeable; they teach us well,” he said.
Trainee, Mr. Levi Nedd, told DPI “loosing down motors, checking bearings and operating on power line” are what he enjoys learning. He plans to utilise his skills locally on completion of his training. “I will continue to work with GuySuCo, and I hope to be a very good asset to the entity,” he said.
Mr. Jason Lachman of Ankerville, Port Mourant followed his dreams to GTC. “Fixing things is my passion, and I have a love for joining wires, that’s why I came here,’ the aspiring electrician said.
Another trainee, Mr. Brandon Singh, is thankful for the lessons learnt to date. “I chose agri-mechanics because I love engines and the construction of it. I enjoy it here!” the East Bank Berbice youth exclaimed.
Bashful Mr. Tyrone Farley told DPI he was pleased with the knowledge that he is gaining at the Centre. “We have been exposed to different areas, but I have done some works in the power house.” Mr. Farley is among many trainees who said they were convinced to enrol by friends who also pursued training at GTC.
Mr. Daniel Joseph of Number One Farm, Corentyne is enrolled in the industrial electrical course. While the course is “challenging,” Joseph recognises that “everything does not come easy, so when it come, you have to take it head-on and go.”
He added: “I would like to further my studies in the electrical fields, so I believe that what I am learning here will help me a lot because I want to be that engineer I always dream about.”
What’s there to learn?
The training course runs for four years, but what distinguishes the technical facility from others is that it stands on the pillars of tradition, honour, and discipline.
“We have the competitive advantage. Over the years, we have set an example; our examination results, over the years, are between 95 to 100 per cent distinction that is because we concentrate more on quality. We have a code of conduct, and we follow natural justice, and we are fair also because these are youths and we don’t want to destroy them, we want to [mould] them,” GTC Manager, Mr. Jainarine Sookpaul, told DPI.
Upon enrolment, all trainees are exposed to one year of general engineering, which involves metal work (bench fitting) and welding. Based on their performance at the end of the year, they are placed into their respective programmes.
They are only required to spend two years at the Centre, but are given apprenticeships at estates during their third and fourth years of.
“We would go every month to monitor them. They have a logbook that they enter all the work that they do; operation procedure, drawing, you name it, and we go out there and check their attendance, their deportment, if they are knowledgeable on the job and seek feedback from their coordinators. And based on their performance, we decide if they will make it for graduation,” Mr. Sookpaul explained.
The Manager said the training is not limited to a craft certificate, but some graduates receive the more advanced Technician 1 or 2 credentials. In most instances, he added, large companies offer these trainees employment.
Mr. Sookpaul said many of the technical staff recently employed by ExxonMobil are GTC alumnus.
The trainees reside at the GTC hostel, which is not too far from the Training Centre. They wake at 4am and complete a list of duties before heading to classes at 7am. In the afternoon, there are periods for games, gardening maintenance and other scheduled requirements. After supper, a compulsory study session begins at 7pm with lights out at 10pm.
Other courses
Apart from the apprenticeship scheme, classes are also done through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) from 4:30pm to 7pm, Monday to Thursday. That programme caters for 120 applicants at a time, with some nine batches already completed.
“We have persons as far as the West Coast to Corriverton coming here in the evening just to do this programme, but because of Covid, we have put the programme on hold. The BIT programme caters for individuals ages 18 to 35,” Mr. Sookpaul said.
The GTC also facilitates training for the Guyana Defence Force. “We have completed one batch already, and we are hoping that once all goes well, we can start the next army training of 45 persons on January 18.”
Recruitment
Every January, the institution hosts a recruitment drive where persons between ages 15 to 17 are selected based on the various estates’ needs. “We will go out there to all the secondary schools, and we sensitise the students about the Centre and distribute application forms.”
Those who submit their applications are invited to sit an entrance test, and successful candidates are shortlisted.
“Sometimes we receive about 600 applications, and out of that, we only need 60. So, we would shortlist about 120 persons for an interview. So, we do a two to one, then we select 60. Those 60 persons, we know exactly what we have to train them for. They will start their training in July on a normal operation, without Covid.”
Mr. Sookpaul notes that in addition to becoming skilled artisans, the apprentices are also taught how to be successful managers.
Outlook
The last five years have heaped pressure on the institute’s administration since the sugar sector was its sole source of funding. But even with shuttered estates and record-low production, GuySuCo continued to fund the Centre’s routine operations thereby allowing it to continue its mission.
The apprentices attached to estates that were closed were reassigned to the operational ones or businesses such as Demerara Distillers Limited or Skeldon Energy Incorporated.
“Not much was done in terms of capital projects. We are anticipating a lot more assistance with the new administration in areas such as infrastructure, tools and equipment, staff training and development,” Mr. Sookpaul said.
The Manager’s expectation is justifiable given the PPP/C Government’s objective to return sugar to its former glory, with billions of dollars being invested in reopening estates and revitalising the sector.