PJV assistants get nod as qualified tradesmen

The National Apprenticeship and Trade Testing Board (NATTB) has certified 10 trade assistants with Porgera Joint Venture (PJV) as qualified tradesmen in maintenance fitting and machining.
The tradesmen had completed levels one, two and three of the board’s trade test requirements and received their certificates last month.
Among them is Frank Kilya, the NATTB secretariat-recognised 2017 trade test candidate of the year.
Trade assistants Jackson Epee Matai, Herbert Pomoi, Allen Moris, Bonny Keyo, Wagi Kaipek, Barlie Bernard, Super Ope, Standford John, Newman Taimen and Frank Kilya were handed their certificates on site by PJV fixed plant and electrical maintenance manager Dave Moloney on Jan 12.
PJV manager, asset management and infrastructure, Don Nurthen described the occasion as a great achievement for the men, personally, as well as for the Porgera operation.
“You guys have worked hard to complete the NATTB trade testing levels and this is also a great achievement for the site,” he said.
“You now have a great opportunity that you can grab and move forward as tradesmen.”
Kilya, on behalf of the tradesmen, thanked PJV for prioritising training for the assistants to enable them to receive their qualifications as tradesmen.
Kilya also acknowledged the contribution of the PJV maintenance training section.
For the majority of the new tradesmen, receiving their NATTB certifications was a dream come true.
“It’s a dream come true for me and the family to achieve this recognition as qualified tradesmen because I know there are still others out there also wanting to achieve this,” Moris, a trade assistant for the past 10 years with fixed plant mechanical, said.
“I thank PJV and the maintenance training section for this.”