The Guyana Training Agency (GTA) was formally launched on Tuesday, becoming Guyana's first European Commission (EC)-funded project that is being implemented and managed by the private sector, with government acting as the facilitator.

The GTA came about after the Government of Guyana and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) approached the EC to assist with the upgrading of the technical skills in Guyana's private and public companies. Finance was accessed from the EC through the eighth EDF.

The eighth EDF will fund the operations of the agency and the cost of technical assistance during the first three years, up to the amount of 1.8 million Euros.

The agency was launched on Tuesday at Le Meridien by Prime Minister Sam Hinds with members of the private sector, the diplomatic corps and government officials in attendance.

Speaking on behalf Vincent De Visscher, head of delegation of the EC in Guyana, GTA's Project Coordinator Dr Volker Paul stated that the overall objective of the project was to contribute to the strengthening of the private sector's capacity of production.

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Brian James (at podium), outlining what the Guyana Training Agency (GTA) is all about to the gathering at Le Meridien Pegasus on Tuesday. GTA was launched by Prime Minister Sam Hinds (left). Next to him are (from left) GTA's chairman, Dr Peter de Groot; Project Coordinator, Volker Paul; and GTA's director, Denise Beresford. (Ken Moore photo)

He said this would be attained through a more adequate supply of skilled workers according to the industries' demand, resulting in improved efficiency and quality of the national production.

"Getting this project approved and having the agency started has been a long process, but we are finally there. The agency is ready to run. However, it can only reach its objectives with the active participation of the private sector," he stated.

Paul said that the Guyana government had recognised that for national production to increase, leading to job creation and poverty reduction, it was imperative that the private sector continued to develop dynamically.

He noted that government was also implementing a structural adjustment programme, focusing on reduction of the state's role in economic activity, rehabilitation of national infrastructure, and enhancement of the regulatory framework within which the private sector operated.

"The private sector identified the dearth of skilled human resources as a crucial factor hindering improvement of the country's productive capacity," Paul said. "Improvement in quality production is a sine qua non condition for competitiveness in the international market."

GTA would organise short- and long-term courses, all of which would be demand-oriented. The agency would carry out training needs analysis with the companies interested in training to specify the scope of courses.

GTA would work with a pool of external resource persons who would carry out training activities.

These would primarily be experienced technicians with solid knowledge in their specific areas.

Paul said external experts for training could be recruited locally, in the Caribbean and the international market.

GTA would also provide instructor upgrading of local trainers, he said.

The payment of fees will be used to recover the cost for all training activities, including the services provided by the agency.

Highlighting some of the skill-related problems in the local industries, Executive Chairman of Gafoor Group of Companies, Sattaur Gafoor, told the gathering that there were difficulties in acquiring skilled and experienced personnel.

He related how his company, and Guyana as a whole, suffered when three of his senior employees migrated after considerable funds were spent training them.

He stated that the GTA would provide a great boost in filling the void for skills upgrade in Guyana.

He urged GTA to expand its mission to incorporate training of technicians in fields where they were non-existent such as agronomy and electronics.

To emphasise his point Gafoor said that companies, including his and a state agency, depended on one electronics technician for service.

"I therefore implore the GTA that whilst its efforts are more than commendable that it expands its mission statement to include the training of skills that are in short supply. You cannot upgrade skills that are not there," he stated.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Hydar Ally, who is on GTA's board of directors, stated that the launching of the agency was the first of several major activities being undertaken in Guyana over the next six months in the technical and vocational field.

Ally stated that his ministry was currently having the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Bill finalised so that it could be tabled in parliament soon.

"Approval of this Bill will pave the way for the establishment of the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)," he said. "Through the Council, the role of the private sector and the Trades Union Congress in the planning, organising and management of TVET will be greatly enhanced."

The permanent secretary disclosed that government was hoping to finalise a major project, which required significant financing, for the further development of the TVET system.

Additionally, a competency based modularised programme would be implemented at the secondary level from September, he said.

He stated also that the post-secondary institutions under the ministry would be pilot testing the competency based modularised curricula that have been developed for craft courses currently being offered by them.

Ally, too, emphasised the importance of the involvement of the private sector in the initiatives, including the GTA.

"The Ministry of Education sees the future role of the private sector in TVET as being critical to its success, whether programmes are organised by the Guyana Training Agency and are delivered in industry or they are being organised nationally in formal institutions by the government or a combination of these training strategies," he stated.

The GTA was conceptualised by the private sector four years ago under the chairmanships of Yesu Persaud and George Jardim.

Chairman of GTA, Dr Peter de Groot, said the agency was a member-based organisation opened to private and public companies, other organisations and individuals.

He said GTA would develop partnerships with companies which would provide their facilities for training.

Dr de Groot asserted that training must remain one of the country's top priorities despite the existing situation where many companies were in the survival mode caused by the downturn in the economy and could barely afford to pay for training.

GTA is geared to be responsive to the needs of any sector in the economy. Potential sectors are: manufacturing, engineering and construction, information technology, agriculture, mining and quarrying, and tourism and hospitality.

Some of the areas in which training would be available are: auto electrical, electronics, welding/fabricating, computer systems administration, computer graphic design, audio/video mixing, photography, food/beverage handling, and video camera operating.

Other members of the board of directors are David Yankana, executive director of the PSC; Ramdial Bookmohan, chairman of the New Building Society; Donna Levi, senior planner at the Ministry of Finance; Helena Laakso, economic adviser to the EC delegation, and Denise Beresford, director of the GTA and ex-officio member.

Members of GTA will be classified according to the size of their establishment and membership fees will be as follows: 250 or more employees -- $100,000; 100 to 249 employees -- $75,000; 50 to 99 employees -- $50,000; ten to 49 employees -- $25,000; nine or fewer employees -- $10,000; and individuals -- $5,000.