By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Training and Vocational Institute in Freeport received a significant donation on Wednesday – a lathe from the Grand Bahama Shipyard.
The Grizzly lathe with a milling attachment will provide important practical training for the first time for persons enrolled in the machining course at BTVI.
Don Forbes, training manager at the shipyard, said the equipment will help to produce quality machinists in The Bahamas.
“Training is ongoing at the shipyard… and a machinist is one of the trades that is really lacking in the Bahamas, and it is something that is vital to (us) at the shipyard,” he said.
Mr Forbes said that 12 of their first-year apprentices are enrolled in the machinist course at BTVI. Prior to the donation, he said that students were unable to get hands on training.
“We did not have the equipment for the practical side of it. A year ago, we decided to invest and buy a machine for BTVI. This machine will go a long way to producing some quality machinist for the future,” he said.
Not disclosing the cost, he said: “It set us back thousands of dollars, but we spare no cost when it comes to training our apprentices properly at BTVI.”
The shipyard has a four-year apprentice programme that is divided into year one, two, three, and four apprentice groups. There are currently 37 apprentices on staff.
“We have 12 apprentices in the first year and they will be receiving training on this machine,” he said.
Veronica Collie, associate vice-president of BTVI, said: “This is yet another donation from the GB Shipyard and we are elated. We are always looking for ways to make sure that our students are trained well, and whenever we ask for materials, supplies, and equipment we get them. We are very appreciative for this latest donation.”
An instructor at the institution said the Lathe Machine has greatly enhanced BTVI’s machine shop.
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