$10M to construct training centre in Bartica

The government is allocating some $10 million to construct a training centre for the first time in Bartica, Region Seven to advance and expand the work of the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) across the region.

This is in keeping with the PPP/C Administration’s commitment to invest in human capital to have a skilled workforce.

This was highlighted by Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton during a recent graduation ceremony in the region. Importantly, the minister noted that BIT remains committed to ensuring that the participants are trained and certified to enter the workforce. “We are moving from a place of expending $3.2 million in 2021, training 45 persons to 2022 expending $12.7 million, training 75 persons. That is because of the seriousness with which we want to ensure that knowledge can be imparted to people in Bartica…Our task is to make you employable,” he said.

The government also intends to establish a welding and fabrication centre and a joinery centre as an annexe to the training centre.

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton handing over a certificate to one of the police officers

Bartica is the first place that a BIT centre was established.

BIT remains dedicated to its efforts to build a skilled workforce countrywide by expending close to $139 million to construct and rehabilitate several training centres.

As such, on Friday, the Ministry of Agriculture issued an invitation for sealed bids from qualified and eligible bidders for the construction of a processing facility for the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) at Orealla, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

The engineer’s estimate for the duration of the work is $15.5 million, and the construction phase lasts 120 calendar days.

Interested and eligible bidders can get additional information from GMC’s Agriculture Complex at LBI Sugar Estate Compound, East Coast Demerara, Region Four.

Interested bidders may obtain the entire set of bidding papers (in pdf format on a CD) by sending a written request and paying a non-refundable fee of $2,500.

All bids must be delivered before 9:00 hours on March 28, 2023 to the Chairman at the National Procurement and Tender Board Administration Board, Ministry of Finance, Main and Urqu-

To the advantage of all farmers who need help processing their produce, funding is made available to guarantee that agro-processing facilities become operational.

At Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice, a cutting-edge food processing facility valued $37 million was officially opened.

In addition, a $15 million agro-processing complex was also commissioned at St. Ignatius, Region Nine, in November 2022.

By doing this, the nation’s food security will be improved, exports will rise, and employment will be created.

1,000 hearing aids to be distributed in 2023 – Anthony

To improve the lifestyle of persons with hearing impairment, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will be procuring and distributing some 1,000 hearing aids in 2023.

Meanwhile, approximately 75 persons of Bartica are now certified in several technical and vocational training programmes through BIT.

The graduates received certification in heavy-duty equipment operation, electrical installation, welding and fabrication, and general building construction.

Some $488.5 million was allocated in this year’s budget to further expand and advance the work of BIT countrywide.

Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Bishram Kuppen, Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall, Acting Chief Executive Officer of BIT, Saskia Eastman- Onwuzirike, Senior Technical Officer, Leon Greaves, and other officials were also in attendance.

This was disclosed recently by Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony during the programme ‘The Guyana Dialogue’. “This year we are planning to do a thousand hearing aids. Just last month, we gave 250 hearing aids to patients who need them and I think we’ll see this programme grow as more and more people learn about the programme,” he said.

Minister Anthony revealed that in 2022, 500 persons from all regions benefitted from hearing aids. A sum of $15 million was allocated in Budget 2022 to procure the much-needed aids. “Before, if you’re diagnosed with a hearing problem you had to pay $65,000 to get a hearing aid. We have made this free. So, once you’re diagnosed with a hearing problem, we’ll give you a hearing aid, free of cost,” the health minister explained.

The programme aims to ensure that everyone with hearing loss is able to receive the gift of hearing, and while the elderly population is targeted for benefits, the programme is also prioritising young children.

Several programmes have been rolled out by the ministry to assist citizens, among them the ‘Snap On’ spectacle initiative that will see persons in the hinterland receiving spectacles – free of cost.

Citizens are also benefitting from free cataract procedures. In addition, hemodialysis patients are benefitting from an annual $600,000 grant that will subsidise the cost of dialysis locally. Some 330 patients received the grant in 2022 and to date, over 100 persons have benefitted in 2023.

“So, there are lots of good things that are happening and it’s happening across the country,” the minister assured.

A sum of $84.9 billion was injected into the healthcare sector for 2023.

Upgrades to road leading to Parika Stelling moving apace

Construction works to upgrade the thoroughfare leading to the Parika Stelling, Region Three are moving apace.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar said he is pleased with the works which will result in a smooth flow of traffic.

“Workers toiled through the night to enhance the highway leading to the Parika Stelling. The upgraded roadway is set to significantly improve traffic flow and reduce commuting time for those who frequently traverse the area. Paving works will resume today,” Minister Indar stated recently.

The Parika Stelling is a busy transportation hub and serves as a critical link between the Demerara River and the West Bank of Demerara, providing a crucial connection between Georgetown and other key locations in the region.

However, for years, commuters have been facing significant challenges with the roadway leading to the crossing station. The Minis- try of Public Works swiftly dispatched a team to rehabilitate the thoroughfare to address these issues.

The road will receive strategic upgrades that will benefit the region for years to come.

Additionally, the enhancement project ties into the major overhaul of the Parika Stelling that is expected to commence this year.

The stelling will be modified to facilitate a payment booth near the weight scales to ensure the ferry mode of transportation is seamless.