Weeks: Tynes Bay training is a wise investment

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 5: Good Afternoon!

Today I wish to commend the management and staff of the Tynes Bay Waste-to-Energy Facility in working to implement a very successful overseas training program that is yielding magnificent results for the Ministry of Public of Works and Bermuda in general.

The program was started in 2007 in response to an acute shortage of suitably qualified Bermudian engineers to fill supervisory roles at the Tynes Bay Waste-to-Energy Facility. The facility utilizes the Canadian system of Power Engineers to fill its operator ranks and requires a licensed Second Class Power Engineer to perform the leadership role of supervisor.

The plant had been utilizing overseas engineers from Canada as supervisors, but this led to challenges with succession planning and in the retention of key knowledge when individuals would eventually depart. In response, the Government formulated a mandate to have the Tynes Bay work force Bermudianized as much as possible to solve this dilemma.

A joint program was established between the National Training Board and the Ministry of Public Works to send capable Bermudian candidates to Canada to study power engineering at Cambrian College in Sudbury Ontario where they would spend three years in an intensive work study program to obtain their 4th, 3rd and 2nd class power engineering licences.

Each year, through a recruitment drive and selection process, young Bermudians from the public and private school system, with an aptitude and passion for engineering, were given the opportunity for a full scholarship to attend Cambrian College as trainees of the NTB.

Since inception, 17 Bermudians have been sent to Cambrian College for power engineering. Of those, 15 obtained 4th class status, 9 obtained 3rd class status and 8 obtained the ultimate goal of 2nd Class Power Engineer. Given that in Canada, only one in twenty power engineers ever rise to become a 2nd class engineer, the results of the program are outstanding and are a testament to the quality of our Bermudian candidates. As the Minister it gives me great pleasure to know that our engineers are competing with the best in the industry!

The program, which covered candidate’s tuition and room and board, cost approximately $50k per student over a three year period. While this was a sizable investment by Government, when you consider that these individuals will be responsible for the operation of a $100M+ dollar facility and a steam turbine that produces a combined revenue and cost savings of over $20k a day, the program cost can truly be seen as a wise investment in the future of the plant and our young people.

Today I have the pleasure of being joined by some of those young people. With me, from the 1st generation of the program, are Mr. Nijae Burgess and Mr. Colin Richardson both of whom are now ready to challenge their 1st class license exams—the qualification required to fill the Operations Engineer post at the plant, which is held by one of only two Bermudian 1st class power engineers on island. This is a testament to the program’s succession planning already at work.

And from the 2nd and 3rd generation of the program, Mr. Anton Daniels and Mr. Donald Smith who started with the facility just this week. Not able to join us today due to their shift work commitments are Mr. Naji Pearman and Mr. Nasir Brangman both from the 2nd generation and Mr. Jason Simons from the 3rd generation of the program.

It is important to note that those candidates who did not progress to the 2nd class level are still benefiting the island as 4th and 3rd class Power Engineer, filling much needed roles in other facilities such as the hotel industry and Belco.

The Ministry of Public Works strongly encourages personal and professional development and recognizes the need to have the most qualified personnel at its disposal. The success of the program bodes well in ensuring that we move towards Bermudianizing our workforce.

I would like to thank the National Training Board for working in partnership with the Ministry of Public Works to enable this sterling training program to provide a bright future for Bermudian engineers. And let us not forget that our staff are our most valuable asset and investment in their development is priceless!

Thank you.