The National Training Programme for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE) said 84 more youths graduated from its programme at a ceremony held at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute on Saturday.

NATI Principal Ronald Simon said they completed training in 20 disciplines in areas such as mechanics, dietary assistants, garment construction, medical records clerks, sales clerks, and in cosmetology. According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release 50 of the graduates are male.

Region Six Training Inspector for the NTPYE Clarence Shako said the trainees were drawn from Crabwood Creek on the Corentyne to Lonsdale, East Bank Berbice. He said that besides the ‘on the job training’, trainees were exposed to life skills education, which covers basic knowledge in Mathematics, English, Micro Enterprise, Sexual Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS.

The graduates bring the total number of youth trained under the programme for the year to 509. In region one and two 185 youth were trained, 132 from the Essequibo Islands, Region Three, 90 from Region Four and 102 from Region Five.

Principal Personnel Officer and NTPYE trainer Shelton Daniels said he was pleased at the number of young men who participated in the programme. Also, President of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association Rohan Marray noted that more industries in Guyana should become more involved in training programmes in order to boost development. He posited that more training should be done in areas as Customer Care, HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancy prevention.

Additionally, CEO of the Board of Industrial Training Alana Brassington encouraged the graduates to develop every aspect of their lives. She also noted that 50 to 60 per cent usually find jobs after they have been trained.