Four young Bermudians from an internship programme at the Tynes Bay Waste-to-Energy Facility have successfully completed engineering studies overseas, the House of Assembly heard yesterday.

Marcal Wilkinson, Ayana Bean, Hezekiah Rampersad and Sekai Wainwright-Basden joined the programme between 2018 and 2019.

They enhanced their engineering qualifications after completing studies at Cambrian College of Applied Arts and Technology in Canada.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the Minister of Public Works, told the House that Mr Wilkinson, who graduated last year, was employed full time at Tynes Bay as a process controller.

He said earlier this month that Ms Bean, Mr Rampersad and Mr Wainwright-Basden earned their advanced diploma in power engineering technology from Cambrian College.

Colonel Burch said Mr Wainwright-Basden would work full time as a process controller at the Tynes Bay facility.

He said Ms Bean and Mr Rampersad “will continue gaining valuable experience at plants in Canada before eventually returning to Bermuda”.

Colonel Burch congratulated the four and their parents on the achievement.

He said: “With this qualification, it opens the opportunity for them to continue in their studies with the ultimate goal of supervisory and management roles in power plants and other industrial settings anywhere in the world.”

The internship programme was restarted by the Government in 2018.

Colonel Burch said that after an internal vetting process, candidates were identified to further their studies and build experience under the training programme developed by Tynes Bay, the Department of Workforce Development, Bermuda College and Cambrian College.

He said the internship programme provided an opportunity to pursue pathway studies through Bermuda College before advanced studies.

He said it ensures “the participants are academically prepared to meet the prerequisite standard of Cambrian College”.

Colonel Burch said the four Bermudians then attained “their rightful place at the Canadian institution to complete their studies”.

At a graduation ceremony at Cambrian College this week, Colonel Burch said he met Jason Simons, a former Tynes Bay intern.

Mr Simons, who graduated from Cambrian in 2012 then worked at Tynes Bay until 2016, is now a power engineer at Bruce Power Nuclear Plant in Ontario, Canada.

Colonel Burch said that during his visit he met officials of the college including Kristine Morrisey, president of the college, Angela Gilmore, interim chair for the School of Engineering Technology and Environmental Studies, and Brian Lobban, the dean of the Schools of Skills Training, Engineering Technology and Environmental Studies.

He said they “discussed ways on how we can improve the synergies between the Government and the college to foster the next cohort of potential graduates in power engineering”.

Nasir Wade, the plant manager at Tynes Bay, who accompanied Colonel Burch, suggested growing the relationship to other areas of study.

Colonel Burch said anyone who “has a slightest interest in engineering” could reach out to the Department of Workforce Development or the Tynes Bay management to learn more.

He added: “Any person accepted into this programme, the Government will pay for your training, pay for your schooling and offer you a position following graduation.”