🚜🎓 10 Participants Successfully Certified as Excavator Operators!

As part of the EMSAGS Project and in collaboration with Newmont Suriname, 10 participants successfully completed the Excavator Operation & Safety Training. The training was delivered by Pansa Machine Shop N.V. and took place from May 9 to 18, 2026, at the PANSA Training Center @ Snesi Kondre.

During the intensive 10-day, 100-hour training program, participants received both theoretical and practical instruction on the safe and responsible operation of excavators. Under the guidance of certified trainers, they gained knowledge and hands-on experience in equipment safety, pre- and post-operation inspections, machine operation, and safe digging and trenching practices.

The training was conducted in accordance with national TVET standards and international frameworks (ANSI and ISO) and combined classroom instruction, demonstrations, and field-based practical exercises.

All 10 participants successfully passed both the theoretical and practical examinations and were awarded an internationally recognized VISTA Certificate of Completion.

This training is a direct outcome of the Community Assessment carried out by EMSAGS in the Pamaka area in 2025. The analysis identified a need for increased access to vocational training opportunities and alternative sources of income. Through the partnership between EMSAGS and Newmont Suriname, participants are gaining new skills, improved employment prospects, and access to sustainable livelihood opportunities, thereby strengthening the socio-economic resilience of local communities.

The positive impact of the training was also reflected in the feedback received from participants. Acif Abani, one of the ten certified participants, shared his experience:

"I learned a great deal about excavators and many things that I did not know before. What impressed me most was the importance of working safely and maintaining a safe work environment. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in this training. I would like to thank EMSAGS and Newmont Suriname for making this sponsored training possible, as well as the trainers from Pansa Machine Shop N.V. for their guidance and support throughout the program."— Acif Abani, Participant, Excavator Operation & Safety Training

With this investment in human capital, EMSAGS and Newmont Suriname are contributing to the development of a safer, more professional, and more sustainable mining sector in Suriname.