– Min. Greenidge says, but finding the skillset might prove difficult

WITH Guyana slated to start oil production during the first quarter of 2020, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge has made it clear that there is great need for specialised training in the areas of oil and gas, and mining.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Takuba Lodge, Greenidge said many countries have expressed an interest in Guyana’s oil sector, but in some instances the assistance being provided is through education and or training.

“We are at a point where we clearly do not have sufficient skills,” the minister stated while noting that those external entities which wish to assist Guyana with the training of personnel would be seeking to find out if Guyanese have the requisite level of skills for intake.

He said, too, that oftentimes during bilateral meetings, countries are more and more offering to provide training, but meeting the criteria needed to gain entry into the universities or other institutions of higher learning continues to be a challenge.
“Countries are offering to train engineers and so on, and we are looking to see whether there are Guyanese with the requisite skills for the intake,” he told reporters.
Minister Greenidge explained that at bilateral meetings, discussions are of a general nature, as countries more or less seek to deepen cooperation.

“It goes without saying, when you are a prospective oil producer,” he said, “you are going to have more interest there than other special commodities. During discussions, [the foreign] country would say it has capacity through an institute in natural resources or oil and gas…and facilities that will help them facilitate training of engineers.”

He said, too, that the executing agencies like the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Ministry of Natural Resources would then take up the offers.
Greenidge made it clear that when institutions offer to provide skills training, it is for Guyana to question the output and the sort of skills that will be generated, and whether the said skills are of interest to the country.

“People need to be trained in almost everything in mining,” the Foreign Minister stated, while noting that there is also a need for economists and other specialists in the field of finance and management, given the country’s discovery of oil, an industry that is new to it.
Greenidge told reporters that it is because of the lack of skills in the oil-and-gas sector that Guyanese are likely to be overlooked for jobs. As such, he is urging that persons become qualified in the field so that they, too, can benefit directly from the industry. If not, specialised jobs will be filled by foreigners.

“Our citizens have to be qualified; that’s a challenge. People recognise where the opportunities are, and buying and selling is not a problem for us; most of us are accustomed to buying cheap and selling expensive, but we need to qualify our citizens,” Greenidge stated.

Additionally, the minister repeatedly noted the importance of Guyanese ensuring that they equip themselves to provide services that will be needed.

“We need to face the truth,” he said. “Buying and selling is not going to be an advantage to us. Our businesses are accustomed to buying cheap and selling expensive. You can’t compete with the internationals if that is your business; you have to add value to something,” he said.

That aside, the minister urged members of the Diaspora “to ensure you can equip yourselves to provide services that can be certified.”