Thanks to a partnership between the Ministry of Public Works and Bermuda Motors, two young trainee mechanics now have several Ford Motor Company Certificates under their belts, which recognize their proficiency in certain areas including: Brake Service Procedures, Advanced Brake Systems Theory & Operation, and Advanced Brake Systems Diagnosis.
The two young men, Dornielle Farrell and Sergio Richardson, are both Public Works employees stationed at the Quarry Motor pool who, upon the request of their Ministry Training Coordinator, Mr. Larry Sticca, were provided a secondment opportunity at Bermuda Motors for three months.
While on secondment, they received on-the-job training at Bermuda Motors as well as online training via Ford Motor Co.
Training for these men was also recently expanded to Saturday morning review sessions with Bermuda Motors mechanic Mr. Peter Winsby, who is offering his time and knowledge on a volunteer basis for the month of June.
“The Ministry of Public Works foresaw a need to obtain qualified young Bermudians to fill posts that were being vacated by an aging workforce,” explained Mr. Sticca. “Therefore the Ministry, together with the Bermuda National Training Board, agreed to co- sponsor four apprentices to attend the New England Institute of Technology for 18 months so that they could become fully qualified. Three of these men attained Associates Degrees - two in Auto Mechanics, one in Auto Body & Collision Repair and a further apprentice went on to achieve a BSc in Service Management; three of these men are still with the Ministry. However, even though they have returned from NEIT fully qualified, they still have to pass their ASE exams as per their contract with the Bermuda National Training Board in order to become certified. Both Sergio and Dornielle are studying along with a 3rd employee, Mr. Dajon Cary, to take the ASE exams in early July.”
The Minister of Public Works the Hon. Craig Cannonier JP MP said: “I would like to commend these two young men on their achievements and offer my sincere thanks to their Ministry supervisors as well as our private industry partners.”