B.D.F. soldiers graduate from skills training program
Earlier today, thirty soldiers of the Light Engineering Company of the B.D.F., were recognized for completing a skills training program. The thirty now head back to camp to ply their newly acquired techniques. Duane Moody attended the graduation ceremony and has this report.
The soon to be completed ITVET on Freetown Road, was the venue for a graduation ceremony for thirty officers of the Belize Defense Force. Following a three month program, the officers received certificates in welding, AC and refrigeration and electrical installation.
Corporal Denis Chun, Received Certificate in Welding
“I learned much more than I expected and back in the B.D.F., we just been improved with some equipments that we could actually start to use now.”
Private Rafael Navarette, Received Certificate in AC & Refrigeration
“It gave us opportunity and as I can say it is a dream came true. We have picked up a lot of knowledge that we did not know.”
Private Luke Flores, Received Certificate in Electrical Installation
“I can uplift my self in the job even at my house and other people. Fi when I come out of the job I can help myself you know—got wah trade and something weh I could do.”
The training was funded by the Global Peace Operations Initiative Program to assist in capacity building of peace operations by members of the Light Engineering Company.
Brigadier General Dario Tapia, Commandant, B.D.F.
“It was necessary to have them trained in the skills that they require to execute their mandated tasks. As a result we were able to tap into the ITVET to get the necessary trade skills that the engineers require to complete their tasks. There are currently approximately, just under a hundred members within the Light Engineer Company. So far, we have been able to train fifty-five of those personnel. We intend to do another series of skills starting November in different areas. The earlier batch that graduated in June of this year required skills of carpentry, masonry plumbing and electrical.”
Manager of ITVET, Kenroy Ellis, says that the facility provides seven technical programs and there are plans to expand.
Kenroy Ellis, Manager, ITVET, Belize City
“There is still some construction going on but by the end of October we are hoping that everything should be completed and we will have a big opening I suspect. But generally, it is a very nice facility and a state of the art—it’s a lovely courtyard that we have and one of these days you probably could come by and take a look at the facilities that we have in terms of the workshop. We asked for an extension of one of the programs—the welding department—because they assisted us with building some security bars for our workshop area. But in general it is a three months program and they get a certificate. The only aspect out of the general training that they will not receive are the support areas which would be in computer, language and communication, technical math and also TD.”
This is the second contingent of soldiers from the Light Engineering Company to get skills training. The tab for both programs stands at one hundred and one thousand U.S. dollars. Duane Moody Reporting for News Five.
