FLANKER, St James — Almost $4 million worth of construction equipment was on Tuesday last handed over by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) to the Flanker Skills Training Institute in St James.

The donation includes sledgehammers, pickaxes, electric saws, electric sanders, spades, shovels, paint rollers, pipe wrenches, drills, screwdriver sets, a ladder and steel cutters.

Deputy general manager of CHEC Dr Zhimin Hu, speaking at the handover ceremony held at the institution, said the company’s contribution to the project encapsulates the theme, ‘give a man a fish, and he may be hungry again. Teach a man to fish, he will never be hungry again’.

She argued that, “skills certification, especially those which are nationally and internationally recognised, is like a passport to a good job.”

HEART Trust/NTA acting senior director for Workforce Development and Employment Division, Elain Holloway, thanked the Chinese government and CHEC for their kind gesture.

“I am sure that this investment will help to change the lives of many youth in Flanker and neighbouring communities,” said Holloway, who also challenged the students to care for the equipment and tools.

The building that houses the training institute was constructed about five years ago and was officially opened in May with its first cohort of students.

Minister of national security and Member of Parliament for St James North Western Dr Horace Chang, who congratulated the community for protecting the centre, bemoaned the length of time it took “for something to be done” at the centre, which carried a cost the country of almost $100 million for its construction and to be equipped.

He said the institution is seeking to ensure that activities there will attract a cross section of young people in Flanker and other sections of St James.

Chang pointed out that the presentation on Tuesday forms part of a raft of initiatives to ensure sustainability, and as such, the equipment will assist in starting a programme in property management (landscaping and maintenance).

He added that by the end of the year the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) will take a simulator to Montego Bay to train and certify operators of articulated vehicles.

The creation of a recording studio, hopefully by the end of next year, is also on the MP’s agenda.