15 graduate from first BIT aircraft maintenance training

May 21, 2026 News

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(Kaieteur News) – Fifteen students from the Essequibo Training Institute (ETI) in Region Two, on Wednesday graduated from the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) first ever Aircraft Maintenance Foundation Skills programme.

The ceremony was held at the Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School (AWHWAES) at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle, East Coast Demerara.

BIT an agency under the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning in collaboration with AWHWAES had launched its Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) Level 1, Aircraft Maintenance Foundation Skills programme at the ETI on July 10, 2025.

The programme which welcomed some 20 students at the time provided them with entry-level training in aircraft maintenance, enhancing their employability and long-term career prospects and supporting Guyana’s aviation sector.

Delivering the opening remarks at the graduating ceremony, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Board of Industrial Training, Richard Maughan disclosed that this programme is a fulfillment of a promise to extend high quality industrial relevant training programme to Guyanese wherever they are.

“During the last five years as an organisation, we were guided to focus on the manifesto promises and one of the manifesto promises that we focus on was to make sure that technical and vocational training reach hinterland and rural communities but in general that people have access to quality technical and vocational training,” he said.

With an investment of $19.4M, the CEO stated that aircraft maintenance foundation skills programme was a programme that was developed years ago but was shelved. He noted it was later implemented by former Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton. “The programme was developed a few years ago by the Council for Technical and Vocational Training. But the programme was developed and was sitting there and if we had a high-quality programme but we are not implementing the programme it is not serving the purpose for which it was designed for. So, with the full support of the minister then and the ministry, we were able to collaborate and to move this programme from a shelf to impact the lives of individuals living in Guyana,” he explained.

Applauding those who were involved in getting this programme implemented, Maughan related that the foundation skill programme represent more than training. It represents vision, partnership, commitment and confidence in the ability of young people in Guyana, he added.

Speaking on behalf of the Aeronautical Engineering School, was Nalini Chanderban, its Accountable and General Manager, who expressed that the completion of the Level One maintenance foundation skill programme, is an important millstone for the students as this is a meaningful step towards a future in aviation.

Meanwhile, delivering the feature address, Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar noted how critical these skills are to the country’s growing aviation sector.

According to the Minister, the aviation sector is one that is expanding and one where there is a major gap of engineering professional that needs to be filled.

“I can tell you all of the aviation operators have complained of folks leaving and going and work with the oil and industry. So they are trained in the aviation sector and then somebody pick them up and they working three times the salary. So it is a lucrative environment,” he told the graduates.

Speaking about the development of the sector and how more skills is needed, briefly he disclosed that in 2020 there were four airlines coming to the country. He noted now after five years there are currently 16 airlines operating in Guyana.

“That tells you where Guyana is and how people are seeing Guyana. So, every aircraft that comes here need ground handlers, they need people to work on the planes. We don’t have our international MRs as yet, we are working on those things where we can do repairs and maintenance on large aircraft but we have it for the local aircraft,” he stated.

He said for the first time in the country’s history, there are over 100 local air assets.

Noting that the Ogle Airport is the busiest in the Caribbean, he related that the government is building out and upgrading over 45 airstrips. He also said they are building two more airports which can facilitate large aircraft and jets, and they are constructing another terminal at the CJIA airport.

“So you are in the right sector,” he told graduands noting that the sector is being developed at a rapid pace.

“Our policy that was given by the President is that Guyana must be two things, a regional aviation hub and a regional maritime hub, and those two things is what we are working on,” he said.

Recognizing the works of BIT and how it is equipping and building people to help develop the country, the minister encouraged the students to continue learning and taking in their education. “The role of education and training is critical to lift you out of poverty,” he informed.

“To graduands I want to say to yall that your foot is on the right path, continue to develop, this programme is an elementary programme level one aircraft maintenance is a foundation level but then you have the more technical areas. Don’t stop, continue doing it, get into the work place, make sure that you show respect and be humble,” he expressed.

Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith and Chairperson of BIT, Kathy Smith also congratulated the students on successfully completing this nine-month programme noting that it is stepping stone to greater heights.

Briefly, Minister Griffith told them, “You represent the first batch of graduands in this programme and it means for each of you, you are all pioneers…I have a responsibility as your Minister to encourage you not to squander this opportunity.”

He informed them that the government has set aside an excess of $2.5 B towards technical and vocational training and they are the direct beneficiaries of that investment.

“We expect that in years from now all of you would be in a position where you can all contribute meaningfully to our society and the continued development of Guyana and especially the aeronautical sector,” he said.

Smith in her charge to the graduating cohort tasked them to ensure there is safety in all that they do, to keep learning as the aviation field is not an easy one and to use their skills to build Guyana.

The 15 students who graduated on Wednesday were Aditya Dwarka, Ashminie Chan, Vickash Persaud, Narindra Seeram, Rajeev Rooplall, Samantha Odhoo, Seffron Mohabir, Stephon Pearson, Bishav Persaud, Akash Bridgemohan, Arjun Bridgemohan, Cynthia Paul, Maria Prince, Rivaldo Williams and Keiron Smith.

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• aircraft maintenance, BIT, CJIA Airport, Deodar Indar

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