THERE is a legitimate need for Guyanese to get as many of the jobs on projects as possible.  However, the issue has become more of a political, and less of a more practical one. Guyana has to balance the need for foreign- financed project development for long-term benefits against temporary and desirable ones. The Marriott was a case in point. A decision may have been made to forego insisting on a given percentage of Guyanese workers, certainly not close to 100, while lowering the cost and completion time, may have been a sound decision taking all things into consideration.
It is debatable how many skilled Guyanese workers were and are available for work on the many ongoing projects at the present time. This question needs to be asked and answered. Transfer of skills, though desirable, must be looked at under the existing circumstances and addressed for best outcomes
 
A reality that is avoided in this issue is the current level of performance seen in local projects.  How does the competence and work ethic of both contractors and workers play in the many poor and delayed local construction works that are constantly reported? Government is responsible for the quality, costs, and timeliness of projects. Contracts should be awarded on the basis of the lowest bidder, with a proven capacity and track record to do a given job.
Government must do a better job in using the best expertise in the design, given local conditions, the building and close monitoring of projects to avoid costly delays. Skilled workers should be certified so as to establish their ability and availability to work on projects.
A list of competent contractors must be created and monitored. Jobs must be earned in a competitive environment not awarded for political purposes instead of what is best for the nation’s development.