Over 400 from indigenous villages to benefit from BIT skills training
…as Labour, Amerindian Affairs Ministries ink MoU
More than 400 Community Service Officers (CSO) from indigenous communities across Guyana are set to benefit from skills training as a result of a collaborative project between the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and the Ministry of Labour.
Subject ministers Joseph Hamilton and Pauline Sukhai inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday at the Hinterland Scholarship Dormitory at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.
The Labour Minister Hamilton, in his remarks, outlined that the launch was significant as it was done on World Youth Skill Day, held under the theme ‘Reimagining Youth Skills Post-pandemic’.
He highlighted that the government has adapted excellently to the ongoing pandemic and is equipping the younger generation with the “technical and manpower needs of society” by ensuring that occupational tendencies are attained.
With this in mind, the Labour Minister underscored the need for youths to be “multifaceted” and not confined to one skill – a key factor in the training being undertaken by the CSOs.
“One skilled person cannot survive the next five or 10 years. You have to become multi-talented you can be comfortable. Only multi-skilled people will be able to survive,” the minister emphasised.
“Because let us assume you are working with a company, for whatever reason, the company goes out of business. If you have another skill, you quickly move into that and continue to earn so the point is, young people, you must have more than one talent, you must have more than one skill.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai noted that the government will spear no expense when it comes to the development of its human resource – as marked by the training.
She encouraged the receiving CSOs to make the best of the opportunity as it can serve as a means to “propel them to greatness.”
“This is your chance to take the opportunity that you’re now embarking on to focus on the training. I want to underline and underscore the word focus. I want you to focus on all parts of the training. It is accommodation. It is a stepping stone, and therefore do not limit yourself,” Minister Sukhai underscored.
The project is being implemented in order to provide high-level training within a range of technical competencies namely Field Operation and Maintenance of Tractors, Solar Installation, and Maintenance.
Those skills, according to Minister Sukhai are necessary to enable the CSOs to provide services needed within their communities and to improve the living, social and economic conditions for themselves and their families.
