The Anguilla Community College (ACC) has joined with Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) to offer linesmen training and certification to employees of the Anguilla Electricity Corporation (ANGLEC). Eight linesmen are enrolled in the level two certification course which is scheduled to run for full-day sessions every Friday until December 2019. At the end of the programme, the participants must pass written and practical examinations to achieve final certification.
ANGLEC is a member of CARILEC and, through that relationship, CARILEC and the ACC signed an MOU that authorizes the College to deliver the CARILEC programme in Anguilla. The course facilitator is former ANGLEC employee, an experienced and certified electrician, Mr Gavin Richardson. In addition to the level two certification which is currently on offer, the College may also deliver levels one and three of the tiered CARILEC training.
Outgoing Dean of Studies at the ACC, Quincy Harriga, and Director of Technology, Tamara Pradel, worked closely with ANGLEC’s Human Resources Manager, Erimel Franklin, and Head of Transmission and Distribution, Steve Hodge, over the past few months, to make the training a reality. According to Mr. Hodge, “ANGLEC is happy to be partnering with the ACC which will be taking on the role of facilitating the programme to our linesmen.” He further stated, “today’s linesman has to be re-trained in order to keep in step with the new developments in the industry. There is also the ever-increasing need for utilities to work together and partner in joint operations. In the Caribbean region this is evident in hurricane restorations which are a regular part of life nowadays. CARILEC has partnered with the Institute for Safety in Powerline Construction (IPSC) in the USA – to develop the programme into a certified one whereby, once trained, linesmen will be able to function in just about any part of the world.”
CARILEC Training Manager, Laurena Primus, lauded the initiative. She stated, “ CARILEC has given its support to this project based on a long term view of building a pool of future utility workers. In the same vein, we anticipate that prospective candidates at the Anguilla Community College will have additional career options to choose from. The electric utility industry of the future will require skilled and proficient workers who will enter the workforce as a matter of choice .”
ACC President, Dr Karl Dawson, also expressed satisfaction with the arrangement. “This collaboration is not only at the local level, with ANGLEC, but also involves CARILEC which ensures that the training that we are facilitating meets regional standards. The Anguilla Community College looks forward to working with other sectors and organizations to meet their training needs.”
To find out more about other technical courses in Electrical Operations, Plumbing or Carpentry at the Anguilla Community College, call 498-8395 or 497-2538 or email info@acc.edu.ai.
– Press Release
