Forty women from regions Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) and Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) recently graduated from the Atlantic Maritime and Offshore Training Institute (AAMOTI) through a fully-funded scholarship programme that was a collaboration between the Office of the First Lady and the institute, a release from the First Lady’s Office stated.
The graduation took place during a ceremony at the Baridi Benab, at State House in Georgetown. Attendees included Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton; Minister of the Public Service, Sonia Parag; Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai; British High Commissioner, Jane Miller; Chinese Ambassador, Guo Haiyan; and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Guyana Office for Investment (G-Invest), Dr Peter Ramsaroop.
According to the release, the 40 women were the second batch of a total of 60 women who have since benefitted from the scholarship programme. A total of 100 women from the hinterland will receive training through the programme which was launched last year.
The 40 hinterland women spent the last week at the institute’s Friendship, East Bank Demerara location undergoing the Basic Safety Training (BST) and Ship Security Awareness Training – both of which are accredited by the Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ), the release informed.
In her remarks at the graduation ceremony, First Lady Arya Ali stated that the programme aims to address the significant underrepresentation of women in the labour force; specifically in sectors like oil and gas, construction, shipping, and logistics. She highlighted that the participation rate for women is around 50 per cent, compared to about 80 per cent for men.
The First Lady explained that the courses were chosen based on data from the Guyana Skilled Labour Assessment Study, which shows that over the next five years, Guyana’s oil and gas, construction, transportation and logistics, health, and agricultural sectors will require an additional 53,000 workers.
“The STCW [Standards of Training and Certification of Watchkeeping] and Ship Security Awareness Courses, both of which you have successfully completed, empower you to do just that – enter these male-dominated industries and increase the participation of women in areas historically dominated by men,” Mrs Ali told the 40 graduates.
She also noted that as Guyana becomes a more attractive place to work and live, competition in the labour market will naturally increase with the addition of labour migrants from all over the world.
“But, holding these regionally-accredited certificates in two distinct areas of Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) places you ahead of the curve. You have a head start, and while it certainly is a cause for celebration, it is also a cause for action on your part. You must recognise and capitalise on this advantage ahead of those who will be scouting for opportunities in Guyana in the coming years,” she urged the women.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of AAMOTI, Miranda Thakur-Deen spoke about how privileged it was for the institution to partner with the Office of the First Lady to offer technical training to Guyanese women.
“The First Lady continues to lead the charge in providing access to opportunities for our women, and support their development at every level. So we are extremely delighted and privileged to have been able to work with her office on this amazing programme which supports the empowerment of women and girls in the hinterland.”
Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, who also spoke at the ceremony, encouraged the graduates to see this milestone as just the beginning of what could be exciting and successful careers for them. He was keen to point out that programmes like these show that the government is making strides in bridging the gap between hinterland communities and the coast, to ensure that there is equitable access to opportunities and resources.
Also giving remarks at the ceremony was President of the Women in Maritime Association Caribbean (WiMAC)-Guyana chapter, Thandi McAllister, who underscored the important role women play in the maritime and offshore sectors.
