Nineteen ranks from the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force on Tuesday graduated from a heavy duty equipment training course conducted by BK Group of Companies in collaboration with the Board of Industrial Training.
The objective of the 284-hour residential training course, hosted at the BK Quarries in Teperu, Essequibo River, was to teach the ranks to operate heavy duty machinery to manage public order crises, according to a press release from the BK Group.
In his address during the graduation exercise, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud said training has been a major part of the preparation for the upcoming elections.
“In the past, whenever there are public order incidents we see members of the public blocking public ways, roads, etc with heavy pieces of objects… logs and derelict motor vehicles tec.
One of the difficulties we had in the past addressing that was to find heavy duty equipment to remove them and when we do find those equipment, to find operators that are willing to take the risk associated with operating among protestors who are not necessarily calm and orderly…. And so that fear caused them not to come forward. Therefore the objective in having this training was particularly to address that situation. So if it happens this year, we are ready,” he said.
The commissioner also noted that in the past the joint services have been involved in nation-building projects, including civil projects and it is very likely that in the future they may undertake similar projects. He also noted that if the joint services ranks were to resign from serving, they would still be able to contribute to society by using the skills they have garnered through the programme.
According to the press release, the BK Group is firmly committed to partnerships with government agencies, private sector companies, and non-governmental organisations to ensure youth are equipped with the requisite skills that will enable them to participate in nation-building.
“We have for the last three years partnered with the Skills and Knowledge for Youth Empowerment initiative (SKYE) by providing a six-month training programme at the quarry in varying fields, including heavy duty equipment operators, mechanics, welders, carpenters and general construction workers,” the statement said.
The SKYE project supports the goals of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative which seeks to combat the core causes of crime and violence, enhance public safety and security while offering jobs skills and training to at risk youth in Guyana. The SKYE project is funded by USAID, the report said.
The commissioner commended the BK Group and Director Brian Tiwarie for being good corporate citizens as exemplified in the support provided to the security sector historically and its continued engagement in society.
Meanwhile, in his address Clinton Williams, in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Industrial Training told the participants that the Board’s goal is “to equip you with skills that you are going to …use whether [or not] you stay in the military or the police force.” He added that “there are many opportunities for these new [skills] to be utilised as the various sectors of Guyana develop.”
