Last Updated on February 12, 2025, 12:43 PM AST by Anthony Morris
The Nevis Island Administration (NIA) fully funded a two-week training programme for the employees of the Public Works Department (PWD). The aim of the training was to increase human resource capacity by enhancing their technical expertise in road construction and maintenance.
The training was held at the Asphalt Institute in Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America, from January 28th to February 7th, 2025. Two employees of PWD – Andrez Bartlette, Supervisor of the Asphalt Plant, and Kester Webbe, Inspector of Works in the Roads and Bridges Division, participated in the training programme.
The participants completed the Basic Mixtures Technician Training course and Mix Design Technology Certification training course, during the two-weeks training programme. The programme included classroom lectures and practical lab sessions.
Premier Mark Brantley on investing in local people
Premier of Nevis and Minister of Finance and Human Resources, Mark Brantley, said that they are investing in the development of the skill sets of their local people. He further noted that the training programme was very important as the government is set on building new roads and improving already existing ones in 2025.
Furthermore, the employees of PWD are not benefiting Nevis with their skill sets, but are also helping build roads in neighbouring island, St Kitts, with better machinery provided to them by the government.
Two-week training programme
Andrez Bartlette said that the training programme helped them learn new things, such as oil testing, aggregate testing, testing material before laying the asphalt, and different types of binder to be used according to different climates or temperatures.
He also said that they learnt a lot about aggregates that are an important element on construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation of roadway bases. It includes the size of stones and type of sand to be used, and different mixing processes according to different surfaces.
Moreover, both Andrez Bartlette and Kester Webbe received Professional Development Certificates in Basic Mixtures Technician Training and Mix Design Technology.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
