Six Bermudians have been given paid internships as an Airport Redevelopment Programme gets under way.

Bermuda Skyport Corporation Limited and Aecon Group Inc are sponsoring the project, along with the Bermuda Government’s Department of Workforce Development.

The interns, chosen by a panel of interviewers from Aecon and DWD, will work with Aecon and members of its technical team in Canada.

Those selected are:

• Je-Shae Pace, a 26-year old graduate of the University of Brighton, held a leadership role in project management while at university and worked as a security screener at L.F. Wade International Airport during her summer holidays. She will be working for Scott Associates Architects to gain experience in the field of architecture, which she studied at university.

• Barak Bremar, a 23-year-old graduate of the New England Institute of Technology. He has worked at the airport here in six different departments over a six-year period — most recently as a skycap. He will be working with Mulvey & Banani International as an electrical design intern.

• Owen Chisnall, a 22-year-old graduate of Niagara College is a Bermudian volunteer who is working to help maintain and rebuild Trunk Island. He will be spending half of his internship with H.H. Angus and half with Aecon in order to gain experience in the fields of mechanical engineering and project safety.

• James Gould, a 24-year-old graduate of the University of Plymouth has been working for Kaissa as a junior roof installer and assistant superintendent. He will be working for Aecon and gaining experience in construction management and safety.

• Ricardo Graham-Ward, a 24-year-old graduate of the University of Southampton, has been working for the Bermuda Government as a trainee civil engineer. His internship with WSP Global and Quinn Dressel Associates will allow him to further his career in civil and structural engineering.

• Jordan Lawrence, a 20-year old graduate of the New England Institute of Technology, has recently returned home to Bermuda. He will be spending three months each with H.H. Angus and Aecon gaining experience in mechanical engineering and construction management.

“The interns will spend their time with their host company working on tasks specifically related to the Airport Redevelopment Project and other activities carried out by their host companies, as well as regularly scheduled visits to Aecon where they will participate in a series of dynamic training programmes,” said a Government statement.

“They will each be assigned a mentor who will help them to create and complete an individual development plan throughout the programme and to ensure that they get everything they can out of the programme.

“On completion of the internships, the interns will receive feedback on their development and goals and a certificate of achievement from Aecon. The programme started on May 8 and will last six months. All interns are based in Toronto.”

Minister for home affairs Patricia J. Gordon–Pamplin said: “We are delighted to support this exceptional opportunity for six young Bermudians. Building a new airport is a unique undertaking for Bermuda and we are pleased that these interns will be exposed to this hands-on learning experience.”

Frank Ross, Executive Advisor, Aecon Group Inc., added: “We are very pleased to be starting the internship programme in Toronto this week. We look forward to introducing these six, intellectually curious interns to our design and architecture partners in Canada and to the Aecon team.

“The internships will provide these Bermudians with exposure to accomplished engineering and architectural professionals, and to large scale project experience; we look forward to opening these doors for them.”

The redevelopment of the airport is being implemented under a Government-to-Government framework agreement between the Governments of Canada and Bermuda.

In terms of the agreement, Skyport will oversee the overall development and implementation of the project, and the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), through a subcontract to Aecon, will deliver the construction component of the project.

More updates about the airport redevelopment project can be found on the Bermuda Government portal at www.gov.bm and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BermudaSkyport.