…Guyana’s emerging oil-and-gas industry forms the topic for discussion

TO celebrate its 30th anniversary, the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL) has initiated an essay competition challenging all secondary school-aged students to think deeply about Guyana’s emerging oil-and-gas industry.

At a press briefing yesterday, GAWL revealed the general theme for the essay as ‘The reality of the oil-and-gas industry in Guyana’ and highlighted that there are three categories to which three different questions will apply.
Forms 1-3 will answer the following: ‘The oil industry in Guyana is a new one coming with only great advantages for the Guyanese people. Discuss’

While forms 4-5 will tackle: ‘Guyana faces potential environmental risks being exposed to offshore explorations. Therefore, plans and policies/strategies for emergency situations must be put in place. Discuss.’
And, lastly, the lower and upper 6th students will focus on: ‘The presence of international oil companies in third world countries contributes to accelerated economic development without the need for stringent legal protective measures, which would hinder much-needed foreign investment and increased national revenue. Discuss’

Three winners will be selected from each category and these individuals will be prized with trophies, book prizes and/or electronic appliances.
The deadline for submission is April 13, 2018, at 3:30 pm, while the prizes will be distributed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the GAWL which will be held in May, 2018.

Entry forms can be collected and essays are to be submitted to the Equity Chambers located at 62 Robb Street, Georgetown, (above Scotiabank) from Mondays to Fridays between the hours of 9:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Giving an explanation behind the chosen theme, Executive GAWL member and committee member for the essay competition, Beverly Bishop-Cheddie said that it surrounds the goal to create awareness about Guyana’s petroleum sector.

“We encourage maximum participation from students, because we believe that the issue of the oil-and-gas industry is a very topical issue in Guyana and it is important for our children to be sensitised and informed,” Bishop-Cheddie explained.
Participants must attach a copy of their birth certificate and an acknowledgement slip signed or stamped by the school’s principal confirming enrolment.

In addition, participants should not put their names on the essay, must write in Standard English, maintain a 1,500 -2,000 word limit, type the essay in the ‘Times New Roman’ font in font size ‘12’ with line spacing at 1.5.
For more information, students and secondary schools administrators are asked to contact the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers.