Twenty-nine youths and adults graduated from the Guyana Mining School and Training Centre Inc’s mineral prospecting and map reading level one course on Friday.
A release from the Ministry of Natural Resources said that those successful in the course would’ve attained the requisite 80% attendance and have demonstrated competence.
The release said that they were trained in the areas of following regulations, applying for mining and exploration rights, reading and interpreting maps and using navigation instruments. Worthy of note is the fact that three women topped the class and the valedictorian was adjudged to be Alleya Shahabudeen-Collins.
The objective of the mining school is to provide, in partnership with local, regional, and international, learning institutions, qualified technicians and tradesmen for the mining, mineral and petroleum Industries.
Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman in giving the charge to the graduates complimented them on their accomplishments and noted that they should be very proud of themselves for completing the demanding course.
“Mining is a part of who we are as Guyanese, we hope not to see an end to mining but to make it better, sustainable and safer than it is now. The Ministry strives to ensure that the resources are sustainably developed for all Guyanese. Graduates you are now part of the wave of transformation”, Trotman was quoted as saying.
He went on to commend their demonstration of drive and commitment and charged them to continue to build on what they have so far.
Also addressing the students, Director of the mining school John Applewhite-Hercules noted that the courses were geared towards training youths across Guyana. He said that it is the intention of the course to develop prospecting capacity.
