Fifty of the 79 students who enrolled in a Youth Entrepreneurial Skills Training Programme last year under the Ministry of Public Security’s Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP) graduated on Friday.
Minister of Public Secu-rity Khemraj Ramjattan congratulated the students on their completion of the programme, which was conducted at the Sophia Training Centre.
The courses offered under the programme were Catering and Management; Information Technology and Office Administration; Masonry, Plumbing and Sheeting; Refrigeration and Air Conditioning; and Welding and Fabricating.
Regardless of the area chosen by each student, they all were also offered instruction in Mathematics, English and Entrepreneur-ship.
The training required the students to attend sessions four days a week, for two hours each day.
A review of the overall performance during the training programme was given by Ezraleen McLean, who stated that 18 males and 32 females graduated on Friday. She also mentioned that 25 of the trainees who graduated would be sent on three weeks’ work study to further their knowledge in the area they would have trained in.
McLean congratulated the graduates for bypassing obstacles. She also made mention of how strongly she believes the programme will aid them with their future endeavours, making them into knowledgeable, functional, confident and goal-oriented citizens, based on the performance they displayed during their time in the programme.
The valedictorian, Joel Primo, gave a resounding speech in which he thanked all the teachers who would have taken their time to ensure the students were trained well enough to achieve their goals.
Awards were shared to the top performing student in each area and the runner-ups. Those honoured were: Alana Argyle and runner up Shamara Loncke (Catering); Jo-lana Callen-der and runner-up Iyana Grenardo (Information Technology and Office Administration); Nkala Gordon and runner-up Ameneki Gordon (Masonry); Joel Primo and runner-up Andrew Gad (Plumbing and Sheet Metal); Osafa Browne and runner-up Dionne Bobb (Refrigeration and Air Conditioning); Faye Robinson and runner-up Steven Archibald (Welding and Fabrication).
Overall top performers, male and female, according to subject area, were Osada Browne and Dionne Bobb, who performed outstandingly well in the area of Mathematics; Joel Primo and Gennel Sharper, who were honoured for their performance in English Language; and Nickacy Yaw, who demonstrated outstanding performance in Entrepreneur-ship.
The most cooperative student awards went to Joel Primo and Nickacy Yaw; most disciplined to Genesis Lewis and Alanna Argyle; and the best graduating student award went to Joel Primo, with Osafa Browne as the runner-up.
Ramjattan praised the graduates for their success and expressed how honoured he was to know that the country was welcoming responsible employees and citizens into the working field. He also emphasised the great relief the country could have in knowing that the youths are putting their time to greater use, rather than getting involved in negative issues that most youths are easily influenced to participate in.
Ramjattan also informed them that even though the programme’s life would soon be coming to an end, the government would ensure to allocate resources to ensure more young people can benefit from it.
The programme is aimed at youth development and the reduction of violence perpetrated by idle youth.
