GPL in major drive to bridge skills shortfall

Oct 24, 2013 News

Amidst a major push to improve its service, the country’s state-owned power company has started advertising for management trainees.
The move comes as the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) continue a major, US$40M project to run new transmission lines along the coast, stretching from Essequibo to Crabwood Creek, Berbice.

GPL is a major drive to recruit skilled persons to fill management positions.

Like many other companies, GPL has been suffering from lack of skills, made worse by the so-called brain-drain, affecting Guyana.
Workers have also moved over to the better paying private companies.
In an advertisement for its “Management Trainee Programme”, the company said it is planning to commence the training next month with the possibility of another six months added. Fourteen areas will be covered during the sessions.
Trainees will receive both classroom and practical training in network operations, engineering services and maintenance, system control ops, protection and instrumentation and quality management.
There will also be training in system planning and design, power station and loss reduction operations, supervisory management, industrial relations, commercial operations, procurement and tendering and finance and budgeting.
GPL said it is targeting graduates with a degree in electrical or mechanical engineering, project management or other equivalent qualifications from a recognized tertiary institution.
The deadline for application is tomorrow.
GPL officials said that it first targeted current employees before advertising externally.
Under the US$40M transmission lines programme, some seven new sub-stations are being built across the coast. It will require more hands.
But there is another major reason for the recruitment of skilled workers.
Reviews conducted on the company have found significant shortage of skills with some levels of management not even possessing required qualifications.
GPL’s management, during public engagements, has also pointed to the fact that it is losing personnel due to wrongdoings. A third of its loss reduction crew had to be sent home in recent years after being found taking bribes and being involved in illegal activities.