The Government of Guyana has marked a significant leap in workforce development with the commissioning of the $55.4 million Skills Development and Certification Centre at Corriverton, East Berbice-Corentyne.

Unveiled by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, the new facility stands at the heart of the government’s drive to equip citizens for a rapidly expanding economy. Falling under the remit of the Ministry of Labour and managed by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), the centre is set to ramp up vocational training and open doors to new employment opportunities.

Minister Singh highlighted Guyana’s unprecedented economic momentum: “As a result of rapid expansion in investments, there are new jobs being created and there are new opportunities everywhere. We’re seeing more investments in every single sector of the economy than at any other time in the history of our country. This is driving up the demand for skilled labour, both in specialty fields and in sheer numbers.”

Despite more than 15,400 individuals trained by the BIT over the past five years, the country continues to grapple with a shortage of skilled workers—particularly heavy equipment operators and certified trade professionals. Businesses in Berbice, for instance, report having equipment idled for want of qualified operators, further underlining the urgency of such training initiatives.

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton emphasized the government’s shift into a new phase of its workforce strategy: constructing modern training units not just at Corriverton, but also in New Amsterdam, Unity, Tuschen, Port Kaituma, Mahdia, and Lethem. Special mention was made of Region Seven, where the training goal is set at 2,400 workers to support one of the largest gold mines currently under development.

Over the period 2020–2025, the government has injected an estimated $1.14 billion into BIT-led skills training, directly benefitting over 15,000 Guyanese—including nearly 3,000 in Region Six—across sectors from technical institutes to community workshops.

Chairman of BIT, David Armogan, spoke on closing the gap between skills supplied and industry demands: “There are daily complaints about the difficulty of finding properly certified people to work. Regardless of how skilled you are, certification matters—this is what investors and employers want, and what the board provides.”

Corriverton’s new centre is expected to serve as a catalyst for personal advancement, business growth, and community vitality—empowering Guyanese with the certification and expertise required in a booming national economy.