63 Hinterland Community Service Officers (CSO’s) completed BIT programme.
Thanks to collaborative efforts between the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) and the Ministries of Labour and Amerindian Affairs, sixty-three (63) Community Services Officers (CSO’s) from various hinterland communities completed skills training in Computer Repairs and Solar Panel Installation.
The graduation ceremony was held on Wednesday, December 22, 2021, at the Hinterland Scholarship Dormitory at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.
CEO of BIT, Mr. Richard Maughn, Student Affairs Officer at the Dormitory, Ms. Lisa Rodrigues and Administrator / Senior Social Worker, Mr. Christoher Sookdeo attended the ceremony.
Guest speaker, Mr. Maughn, told the graduates that their sacrifice to leave their homes to pursue a skill will get them a far way.
“Skills training offers self-growth, your decisions made will surely pay off when you either pursue further knowledge and venture into the workforce or open your own businesses. Today, you are no longer trainers, you the graduates, are leaving the dormitory with knowledge that comes with a cost to acquire but was given to you for free.” He noted.
Further, the CEO urged the graduates when the return to their homes, work on a plan over the holidays, that will help them positively start 2022.
A recent graduation was held in October, 2021, where 151 persons completed training in Photovoltaic Systems, Tractor Driving and Maintenance. Minister of Labour, Hon. Joseph Hamilton attended that ceremony and highlighted in an interview with BIT, that the CSO programme came into being subsequent to the recognition of the difficulties persons in the hinterland areas face in employment and development.
“The CSO programme came into being, because there was a recognition of the difficulty of employment and development in Amerindian communities and hinterland communities. And therefore, the Government sought to have in every village either 10, 15, or 20 CSOs, pay them $30,000 and they were instructed to work with the Village Councils – work as a teacher’s aide in the school, work with the CHW [Community Health Worker] or the nurses at the health centre to learn a skill to understand Government policy and how Government functions,” he explained.
PC| BIT
(Board of Industrial Training, Public Relations Department).