Georgetown: Nineteen ranks from the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force combined today graduated from a 284 hour Training Course conducted by the BK Group of Companies under the auspices of the Board of Industrial Training and the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security.
The residential Training Course was conducted at BK Quarries at Teperu in the Essequibo River over a two week period.
Speaking on behalf of Mr. Brian Tiwarie and the board of the BK Group of Companies, Public Relations Consultant Alex Graham said that “The BK Group is firmly committed to partnerships with government agencies, private sector companies, and non-governmental organisations to ensure that we are able to pass on skills that are critical to putting young people to work and to enable them to participate in national development while enjoying personal growth.”
Graham in pointing out the BK Quarry has the capacity to accommodate the staff compliment required for operations at full capacity as well accommodate apprentices and students on training programmes and work-study assignments, addedthat “We have for the last three years partnered with the Skills and Knowledge for Youth Empowerment initiative (SKYE) by providing a six month training programme at the quarry in varying fields including heavy duty equipment operators, mechanics, welders, carpenters, and general construction workers.
The SKYE project supports the goals of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) which seeks to combat the core causes of crime and violence, enhance public safety and security while offering job skills and training to at risk youth in Guyana. The SKYE project is funded by USAID.
Delivering remarks at the simple ceremony Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud noted that training has been a major part of the preparation for upcoming elections saying “In the past whenever there are public order incidents we see members of the public blocking public ways, roads etc. with heavy pieces of objects, whatever they could put their hands on including logs and derelict motor vehicles etc. One of the difficulties we had in the past addressing that, was to find heavy duty equipment to remove them and when we do find those equipment, to find operators that are willing to take the risk associated with operating among protestors who are not necessarily calm and orderly as you are. And so that fear caused them not to come forward. Therefore the objective in having this training done was particularly to address that situation. So if it happens this year we are ready”
He also pointed out that in the past the joint services have been involved in nation building projects which included civil projects. And there is every likelihood that this could happen again in the future. Persaud added that if we [the joint services] loose these individuals they continue to serve the community and our society using skills they would have gained from this programme. So at the end of we gain as a society.”
Commissioner Seelall Persaud also praised Mr. Brian Tiwarie and the BK Group as good corporate citizen, exemplified in the support provided to the security sector operations historically, and the company’s continued engagement in the society.
Also speaking at the ceremony was Mr. Clinton Williams in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Industrial Training. He pointed out to the participants that the goal of the Board of Industrial training was “to equip you with skills that you are going to natural use whether you stay in the military or the police force.” He added that “there are many opportunities for these new to be utilised as the various sectors of Guyana develop.”
The BK Group is at the moment working with the Sentence Management Board of the Guyana Prison Service to provide apprentiship training for inmates of the Mazaruni Prision so that inmates can learn and earn and return to their community with some savings and a new skill to support themselves and their family.
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