The importance of safety can never be overemphasized!–ACEO tell graduating students.

Dec 09, 2018 News

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By Enid Joaquin.

Assistant Chief Education Officer (Technical), Patrick Chinedu, told the graduating students of the Linden Technical Institute, on Friday, that with the emerging oil and gas sector, now more than ever, the importance of safety can never be overemphasized.
Chinedu was at the time delivering the feature address at the graduation exercises held on Friday. One hundred and fifty students from LTI graduated from the “Retool” Programme, at LICHAS.
Among those in attendance were Canadian High Commissioner Lillian Chattergee, lecturers, Education Officials, parents, Regional Officials, and officials from Guyana Goldfields.
Earlier, the Occupational Health and Safety Laboratory was commissioned at LTI. The OHS Laboratory will facilitate practical training programmes for both instructors and students.
The objective of its establishment is to improve job readiness for students of LTI, through the development of good workplace safety habits and practices.
The programme involved the integration of safety awareness training into technical, vocational, and business.
Students were exposed to good safety practices such as using personal protective equipment like safety boots, and coveralls.
The OHS programme was piloted at LTI with funding from Guyana Goldfields. It received technical assistance from CUSO International, with support from the Ministry of Education and the Council for Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
Speaking on the importance of educating students in the area of Occupational Health and Safety, Chinedu said that training, would be provided for two staff members from LTI at the first degree level.
He further detailed that at the beginning of the new year, six staff members from Technical Institutes across the country – two from each, would receive training in the heavy duty equipment maintenance programme, in other to replicate the programme at those institutions.
In addition, 15 teachers from TVET institutions and secondary schools would also be offered the CQV Level three programme in occupational Health and Safety.
This would be made possible through part funding from the organization of American States (OAS.)
This programme comes at a time when Guyana is poised to take its rightful place in the Global village.
The Development of Human Capital, known to be the main ingredient for socio economic development, is exactly what this programme is doing.”Chinedu emphasized.
He made reference to the Chinese, who overtook other world economies through a commitment to the development of China’s human capital.
Quoting Nelson Mandela,Chinedu noted, “No country can truly develop unless its citizens are educated.”
He alluded to transnational companies that are now coming to Guyana, because of the emerging oil and gas sector. He said that now more than ever, the importance of safety can never be overemphasized!
“Be the Agent of Cultural Change! When it comes to working safely, Prepare and Prevent…Don’t repair and repent!” Chinedu exhorted.
Chinedu further exhorted the students to recognize the importance of the Safety Laboratory. “As the first recipients of this generous gesture, the gratitude you can show to the partners, especially -Guyana Gold Fields, for their dedication and interest is the impact you make after this graduation today -not just to yourself, but to the community at large, and that expectation is, “Be the Agent of Cultural Change, when it comes to working safely.”
Programme advisor and trainer, Marshall Denham, in his overview, said that Guyana Goldfields is extremely committed to health and safety in the work place, and likes to hire people from LTI whom they found to be good electricians and mechanics.
“However, when we got them up to the mines, we realized that the only thing that they were lacking, was a safety culture or awareness. They might forget to wear safety glasses when they are grinding something, or forget to wear their safety boots.”
Denham said that it was recognized that this was a problem. “So we looked for partners to work with, to implement this retool programme.”
He added that Guyana Goldfields subsequently partnered with CUSO International, a Canadian aid agency that works around the world, and the Ministry of Education.
Denham posited that the idea for the Health and Safety programme is to prepare students for the workplace.
Canadian High Commisioner Lilian Chattergee congratulated the students. She said that young people represent a generation of true global citizens, helped by a world that is networked and connected like never before.
“We continue to partner with organizations such as CUSO International, to deliver programmes such as technical and vocational skills training, entrepreneurship training, career guidance and business incubators, which target youths as key beneficiaries.”
Chattergee said that currently, there are over 20 CUSO volunteers in seven regions in Guyana. She thanked Guyana Goldfields, and CUSO International, both Canadian Companies, along with the Ministry of Education for piloting the Occupational Health and Safety Programme at LTI.

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