- The Women Empowerment in Energy Programme (WEEP) will target women of region 7 and 9, through joint efforts between the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) and Guyana Energy Agency (GEA).
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed today, September 13, 2022, at the Regency Hotel between the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), Ministry of Labour, Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) and the Small Business Bureau (SBB).
The two hundred women in total will receive Business Management skills training by SBB and the BIT will conduct training in Building and Maintenance of Solar Photovoltaic Equipment for a duration of one year.
Funded by the Inter- American Bank (IDB), the WEEP programmme is a component of the Energy Matrix Diversification and Institutional Strengthening of the Department of Energy (EMISDE) Program – Project No. GY-L1066 project and falls under the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, which is an implementing partner.
Additionally, the training aims to enhance the capacities of the women,
including women living with disabilities, for their involvement in the emerging solar energy sub-sector and their Productive Use of Energy (PUE).
Hon. Joseph Hamilton, Minister of Labour, attended the MOU signing, accompanied by Chief Executive Officer of the BIT, Mr. Richard Maughn and CEO of GEA, Mr. Mahendra Sharma and Technical Officer with responsibility for the respective regions, Mr. Leon Greaves.
CEO of BIT, Mr. Maughn in his speech told the gathering there is need for cohesion towards the implementation of technical and vocational training.
“So far, for the year the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) would have signed a few MOUs to make sure there is collaboration with agencies, to pool resources to accomplish more. Further, on behalf of the Chairman of the BIT who is otherwise engaged at this moment, we at the board of industrial training want to register our gratitude and thankfulness for this opportunity to collaborate with GEA,” the CEO remarked.
Main speaker, Minister Hamilton highlighted that the signed MOU, gives the chance for collaborating partners to understand clearly what their responsibilities are.
“When we are talking about Technical and Vocational Training in Guyana, persons will not only look to men but also women, we cannot afford to exclude TVET training from women, since they make up majority of the population. Also, we aim to reskill retirees who are labelled as people with knowledge to return to the workforce.” Minister Hamilton mentioned.
The minister also explained that it is important to persons grasp that no one can survive with one skill or talent will not be able to survive the world of today, he urged prospective trainees to be strategic with their choices, especially the young generation.
The first training will be conducted in the month of October 2022 and targets sixty-five (65) women who will commence theoretical and practical sessions in Business Management Skills and thirty-five (35) women in PV maintenance in region 7. Each group of women will attend sessions over three (3) days in the case of business training.
The solar PV training will be conducted over two weeks and consist of practical and theoretical aspects of PV repairs. This is part of a holistic intervention to create capacity in the areas of Lethem, Bartica and Madhia providing up to 3MW solar PV farms financed under GY-L1066
Persons interested in the training can uplift registration forms from the Regional Democratic Council offices in Regions 7 and 9. In addition, the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Ub7uT2yC8G-TbVwecf_1K5S8g0f7Y4aXwF6PUG_hQ50/edit and or What’s App number: 604-2216 can be used to register or request more information.
PC| BIT
(Board of Industrial Training, Public Relations Department).
