Minister of Amerindian Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues officially opened two new skills training centres last month in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo).
During the opening ceremony of the Surama skills training centre, Minister Rodrigues said the facility was very important for the community and all Amerindians, noting that the opening coincided with the current observances of Amerindian Heritage Month 2007.
The Government Information Agency (GINA) reported that the minister explained that government believed in creating equal opportunities for all Guyanese, whether on the coastland or in the hinterland.
This initiative which received funding from government is part of President Bharrat Jagdeo’s $350M National Training Programme for Youth Empowerment.
Rodrigues also pointed out that the administration has been facilitating several skills training programmes for youths in different regions and urged them to remain focused and to continue contributing to the community’s development.
According to Rodrigues, many communities have complained in the past about substandard products being purchased from other regions when the articles could be produced in their communities with better quality.
“Many of our Amerindian communities have complained about products purchased from the manufacturer and they are saying that we can make it better and with better quality too; so we are giving them the opportunity to come forward and show the skills they have,” Rodrigues was quoted by GINA as saying.
Meanwhile, the Amerindian Affairs Minister also urged the gathering to write to the regional authorities and the Amerindian Affairs Ministry when they have an idea to initiate a project and if they need assistance in implementing the project.
And during the commissioning of another skills training centre for youths in Annai, at the Bina Hill Institute, residents were urged to sell the products made at the centre to make a profit and contribute to the maintenance of the centre.
The youths and those managing the institution were also urged to ensure they keep proper records of all business transactions.
Rodrigues called on the youths to develop managerial skills during the training and they were also urged to utilise the knowledge and experience of their elders.
The community can also be used as a role model for other communities, she said.
With the objective of enhancing youth development and getting more young people into gainful employment, the government established a number of training programmes over the past five years, GINA stated.
These include the President’s Youth Award and the President’s Youth Choice Initiative. In addition, there is the Young Entrepreneurial Skills Training Programme, which is executed by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
Last year, the National Training Programme for Youth Employment was launched as an ambitious, three-year, $350M programme that will teach 5,250 youths various skills.
It will be administered by the Board of Industrial Training and will target early school leavers and out-of-school youths between the ages of 16 and 25 years.
