Despite facing numerous challenges at the GuySuCo Training Centre/Port Mourant (GTC/PM), students, with the help of the East Berbice Estate and competent lecturers rose above the hurdles to successfully graduate on Wednesday last.

At the 47th annual apprentice graduation ceremony, over 33 apprentices graduated in the areas of fitting and machining, agriculture mechanic, auto electrics, industrial electronics and sugar boiling with 86% distinctions and 14% credits.

Manager of the GTC/PM, Floyd Scott, urged the graduates to seize all the opportunities and “make the best use of what there is to learn… and adopt roles of mentors, coaches and exemplars.”

He told the gathering that included Minister of Labour, Manzoor Nadir; Ronald Alli, chairman of the Board of Directors of GuySuCo and Nick Jackson, Chief Executive of GuySuCo that the most significant challenge was the minimal use the workshop.

He said the students were unable to use the workshop as required because of the removal of asbestos. The basic one-year training, he said had to be restricted to the hostel and the Port Mourant Jama Masjid with limited practical sessions.

However, he said management ensured that the second-year apprentices were provided with adequate practical training that helped them to “progress reasonably well.”    
Among the other challenges faced, he said, were the lack of “network and internet connection to communicate or access necessary information, the waning interest to serve the career and technical development of apprentices… and the difficulty in working with the estates in transitioning of residential apprentices’ training to in-plant training.”

Scott said that the GTC-PM also faced a difficulty in procuring items and in conducting outreach programmes to recruit the adequate number of candidates particularly those “with good foundation in Mathematics and English. Team members… with the resolve… which has become second nature, saw these challenges as mere obstacles to be surmounted…”

He reported proudly that the electrical/instrument section is to embark on creating an “electronic remote long distance on and off switching device for initial testing on GTC/PM’s external Lighting system…” It would also be designing models for alternative energy in solar and windmill.

The basic year section, he pointed out, would be modifying its current loco/tower bolt and fabricate tools such forks, spades, wheel barrows, hinges and hasp and staples.
“It is anticipated that the quality of work produced will be suitable for use within the industry and contribute in reducing cost, since in most cases the raw material will be scraps/discarded items…,” he said.

The apprentices are also involved in sports, games, culture, religious activities, gardening and multi-skilling. They have participated in tournaments with local and international teams and are the current junior volleyball champions in the country.

He said too that, “The institution extended and maintained a vibrant agro and aqua-cultural programme, which subsidizes the kitchen and significantly reduces cost…”
He said that despite challenges and constraints, the institution has set targets for this academic year and hopes to upgrade: the physical facilities to add computer rooms along with internet connections, the audio-visual laboratory, the reading and research library, the hostel and the workshop.