Eighty-three graduates are now better equipped to enter the workforce and pursue entrepreneurial opportunities after completing the National Training Programme for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE) at the GuySuCo Training Centre (GTC) in Port Mourant, Region Six.
The six-month programme, which ran from 12 January to 26 June 2026, provided evening classes four days a week, enabling working adults to gain nationally recognised technical and vocational skills while maintaining full-time employment. Participants received training in Welding and Fabrication, Refrigeration, Electrical Installation, Motor Vehicle Servicing and Repairs, and Supervisory Management.
Among the standout graduates was 28-year-old Yogeshwar Palackdharry of Albion, who topped the Refrigeration programme. Palackdharry said he enrolled in the course with the goal of developing a side business and becoming self-employed in future.
He described the training as highly beneficial, noting that while he would like to gain more hands-on practical experience, the programme provided him with a solid foundation in refrigeration.
“I wanted to do something self-employed as a side job. I now have the basic knowledge so that if I have a problem with a refrigerator or air conditioning unit at home, I can understand what’s wrong and fix it myself instead of always calling a technician. I will save a lot of money and I will get myself done. For me, it’s very beneficial,” he said.
Palackdharry expressed gratitude to God, his parents, colleagues and his instructor for supporting him throughout the programme, admitting that the field was completely new to him when he started.
Looking ahead, he hopes to build on his practical skills and eventually use refrigeration as an additional source of income. He also encouraged other young people to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the training centre.
“This institution is one of the most recognised places to learn a trade, and they could learn something, they can gain something, they can work and get money. You want a little payment, you can get something done. And just be on the road or the street, come and you’ll get an opportunity at the age, you’ll get an opportunity and you can learn something and you’ll grasp on that,” he said.
Another top performer was 21-year-old Ezekiel DeAndre of Rose Hall Town, who graduated as the top student in the Electrical Installation programme.
DeAndre, who is employed as a Biomedical Maintenance Technician at Port Mourant Hospital, said he had long been interested in the electrical field but lacked formal training and certification.
“This was the perfect opportunity for me, because it was in the evening, so right after work I would go to the evening classes. I learned a lot, and it feels amazing. I didn’t expect it but it feels amazing to know I topped the class,” he said.
He explained that the knowledge gained will directly benefit him in his current profession, where medical equipment often requires specific electrical installations, voltages and outlet ratings. His long-term ambition is to further his studies and become an electrical engineer.
Meanwhile, 29-year-old Denica Henry of Bloomfield Village successfully completed the Motor Vehicle Servicing and Repairs programme, saying the flexible evening schedule allowed her to pursue training while balancing a full-time job and raising her young son.
Henry said she was motivated to enrol because vehicle maintenance is an important life skill.
“I do believe not just females but males too should take advantage of programmes like these because the Government of Guyana is providing opportunities for young people to gain skills that can improve both their technical abilities and earning more,” she said.
Although she entered the programme with little knowledge about vehicles, Henry said the comprehensive curriculum, which covered theory, practical training and safety, helped her build confidence. She added that completing the programme has also given her greater confidence to begin driving on Guyana’s roadways while applying defensive driving principles learned during the course.
Also celebrating her achievement was 23-year-old Makela DaSilva, who graduated from the Welding and Fabrication programme. DaSilva said she chose welding because there are relatively few women in the profession and she hopes to inspire more females to enter skilled trades.
“I want to show women that there are opportunities for them in welding, whether it’s working abroad or even starting a small business, or serving in our communities, because we don’t have many welders,” she said.
She hopes to eventually work in the oil and gas sector and believes the trade will provide greater opportunities for career advancement. DaSilva acknowledged that the programme presented physical challenges, including heavy lifting and handling equipment, but said determination helped her overcome those obstacles.
With another 83 graduates entering the workforce armed with new qualifications and confidence, the programme continues to play a role in strengthening Region Six’s skilled labour force and creating pathways to employment, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning.
