… as first set of females joins TotalTec Academy

MEN have often dominated the industrial sector but Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has said that the emerging local oil and gas industry is not gender-based or secular.

Over the years, studies have found that women are more likely to work in service occupations but females have shown that they are as capable as men in every sector. Testimony to the revolution is the four females who were recruited by the local oil and gas academy, TotalTec.

“The men tend to lead but this brings a new dimension to the opportunities,” said Nagamootoo during his address to persons gathered at TotalTec’s graduation ceremony for its second batch of recruits on Wednesday.

Although the event was organised to celebrate the 24 recruits who graduated from the programme, the women, who make up part of the new batch of 27 recruits, were the highlights of the day.

Two of the four women, Muarisia James and Coleen Moore, said they were intimidated to some extent by the male-dominated programme but they were not prepared to back down.
Both James and Moore said they believe that the sky is the limit and other women should apply to be part of the programme.

On that note, Prime Minister Nagamootoo explained that the course introduces Guyanese to high safety standards which are recognised worldwide.

The standards, he said, would be necessary since the Government intends to use oil and gas to prepare Guyana for new challenges and opportunities.
“Guyana is on the cusp of a new world that we might not dream about … we have black gold, not like the imaginary state Wakanda but oil and gas which belongs to us,” said Nagamootoo.

He encouraged Guyanese to be prepared for the new industry by subjecting themselves to the rigour and discipline of training.

In order to ensure that this type of training is available, he suggested that the University of Guyana (UG) introduce a degree programme. In addition the Prime Minister said the once vibrant Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) training school could partner with stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to offer programmes.

While the training offered by TotalTec is exceptional, he believes that the recruits should go beyond training in safety and expand their knowledge.

Director of TotalTec, Lars Mangal said the academy has just completed its second multi-week programme of 2018, graduating 24 trainees who are ready for careers in the emerging Guyana oil and gas industry.

The third programme started in August and is being supported by TotalTec’s first Guyanese Assistant Instructor, Courtney John.

“Candidates have come from across Guyana’s industrial sectors, with more than 30 per cent recruits and graduates to date coming from the sugar industry … former GuySuCo and bauxite employees,” said Mangal, adding that the academy is on track to training over 100 persons by the end of the year.
When the programme commenced in March, the academy could not predict the demand but they had 1500 applications so far.

With the arrival of a third ExxonMobil drill ship imminent, first oil less than two years away and other operators planning exploration wells, the service industry is recognising the importance of a well-trained, qualified, Guyanese workforce.

TotalTec is focused on the success of the oil industry in Guyana for the benefit the country, its people and partner companies.

Persons who graduated from TotalTec have been able to get employment with the Guyana Shore Base Incorporated (GYSBI) and Schlumberger, the world’s leading provider of technology for reservoir characterisation, drilling, production, and processing to the oil and gas industry.