Empowerment tools readily available for Indigenous villages – Hamilton

Amid the expansion of the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) programmes into hinterland communities in Guyana, Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton has said empowerment training programmes are readily available for Indigenous communities.

In an interview with reporters last week, the minister said the Toshaos are encouraged to make applications for additional training programmes with specific skillsets to be conducted.

BIT was able to train and certify 2,144 residents from across Regions One, Two, Three, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten in key occupational areas.  The areas of training include electrical installation, heavy-duty equipment operation, welding and fabrication, agro processing, small engine repairs and information and communication technology (ICT).

Hamilton said some of the programmes slated for the Indigenous communities have commenced while others are awaiting the identification of the trainers from within the villages. BIT is expected to roll out 97 training programmes across 58 communities this year, with 28 programmes underway and 59 more pending final logistics arrangements. He noted that the intent is to ensure the money remains within the villages and is circulated there.

“When we pay money, the money stays in the village, we don’t import people into the village to train,” Hamilton said.

It is expected that participants of the programmes will be trained in a few months’ time. Hamilton also urged more village leaders to meet with the ministry to ascertain areas of focus and more training opportunities.

“Many of them made specific requests and we have committed to honouring those requests and even to those who are yet to submit request to us, it’s not too late,” he said.

There are training facilities in Bartica in Region Seven and Lethem in Region Nine. Facilities are also under construction at Port Kaituma in Region One and Mahdia in Region Eight. These centres will be completed in several months.