Latest update February 10th, 2025 2:25 PM
Laudable developmental enhancements achieved at Whitewater
About an hour from Mabaruma in Region One (Barima/Waini), the village of
Graduates posing with their certificates. Seated in front from left: CEO of BIT, Maria Khelawan; Regional Vice-Chairperson, Sarah Browne; and Deputy Chief Labour Occupational Safety and Health Officer, Lydia Greene. Also in the picture are: Toshao, Cleveland D’Souza (extreme right) and Deputy Regional Executive Officer, Tikkaram Bissesar.
Whitewater lies on the cusp of development.
It was through the Village Council, being spearheaded by Toshao, Cleveland D’Souza, the construction of a guesthouse was included in the community’s development plan.
This initiative was lauded by the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and that entity’s blessing was bestowed upon the enterprise.
The Ministry of Social Protection was engaged and via its agency – the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) – took up this mantle and engaged community leaders and 14 young persons to be trained for the hospitality sector and to be employed at the guesthouse, once completed.
The training focused on catering and cake decoration, and commenced in November 2016, and completed at the end of February this year, with a graduation ceremony held for the graduates on March 8.
Participants were provided all the materials for the training along with a monthly stipend and payment to the trainer. 14 persons started the programme, with 11 completing it successfully.
The graduation ceremony saw the attendance of the Toshao D’Souza, Regional Vice-chairperson Sarah Browne, Deputy Regional Executive Officer Tikkaram Bissesar, Chief Executive Officer of the Board of the Industrial Training, Maria Khelawan and representing the Junior Minister of Social Protection, Lydia Greene, the Deputy Chief Labour Occupational Safety and Health Officer.
The Toshao in his remarks, commended all the agencies involved, noting that since the request was made in April 2016 to the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, the involvement of Ministers Valerie Garrido-Lowe and Social Protection Minister, Keith Scott has been instrumental in ensuring that the community initiative was realized.
Three friends taking time out to pose for a picture.
D’Souza encouraged the graduates to utilize these goals as a stepping stone to further development. He noted that the council was currently engaged in the training needed to enhance the community.
Browne, the Regional Vice-Chairperson, also extended a thank you to all the stakeholders who made the day a success, and encouraged the continuous development of the region. She noted that the people of Whitewater have always been vibrant and willing to learn, and have the vision to develop themselves and their region.
She encouraged the residents to make full use of this opportunity and to dream big.
She also stressed the importance of education to development, and the popular notion that it takes a village to raise a child.
She also noted that it was fortuitous that the occasion also marked International Women’s Day and showcased the importance of women to the development of Guyana.
In a few comments, Khelawan and Greene also highlighted the alignment that allowed women to be the focus of this graduation ceremony, and the successes yielded by the collaborative efforts of BIT and the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs – this being one of many programmes across the country.
Various training programmes requested by the village councils are also being delivered in Moruca and Matthew’s Ridge, in Region One; Kamarang, Jawalla, Warawatta and Waramadong, in Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni); at Paramakatoi and Kato, in Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni); and Aishalton in Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo).
Each of these programmes have a specific purpose in focusing on developing the skills of local persons in particular trade areas needed for the community and region’s development.
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