Late last year, it was announced that some 6,000 Guyanese workers support the oil and gas industry in Guyana, directly and indirectly. The growing number of locals employed by the industry is reflective of increasing efforts to upskill and build the capacity of Guyanese to occupy roles in the sector. It also shows that Guyana has come a long way from 2015 when the first oil discovery was accompanied by the concern that Guyanese did not have the skills to service the industry.

Over the last several years, young people across Guyana have been benefiting from initiatives by both industry players and local institutions to prepare them to work in the lucrative sector. One such effort is the Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI), which is providing Guyanese with the tools needed to tap into the sector. This is a US$100 million, 10-year investment made by the Stabroek co-venturers – ExxonMobil Guyana, Hess and CNOOC. It is geared towards developing the local workforce, building human capacity, enhancing education and improving healthcare, to promote sustainable economic diversification in Guyana.

Among some of the impactful projects that GGI has been executing are the partnerships with several technical institutes across the country, through which funding is being provided for programmes such as Electrical Installation and Welding and Fabrication.

The institutes include the Georgetown, New Amsterdam and Linden Technical Institutes. These collaborations allow Guyanese to access training that would position them to work in the oil sector. Only recently, it was reported that the Valedictorian from the 2023 graduating class at the Linden Technical Institute was among the 69 graduates who completed the Electrical Installation programme which was sponsored by the GGI.

The University of Guyana is another institution the GGI collaborated with to assist in building the capacity of Guyana’s human resources. Millions of dollars have been invested to support curriculum development, provide technical support and construct facilities that will aid the university in expanding its workforce development efforts.

Most recently, the sod was turned for the construction of a state-of-the-art science and technology building at the University’s Turkeyen campus that GGI is funding. The support also includes retrofitting of labs in the faculty and the addition of three new labs into the existing Faculty of Engineering building.

The facility is expected to double the number of engineers that graduate from the University. The increase in engineers means Guyanese will be able to capitalise on the career opportunities created by both the government and the private sector. Just this week, Vice Chancellor of UG, Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin revealed that international companies, including SBM Offshore Guyana and CNOOC have been absorbing the engineering students even before they graduate.

There has also been a conscious effort by the GGI in collaboration with the University to target students entering secondary school in its career awareness initiative. This is done via the Regional Accelerator for STEM Students Readiness (RASSR) programme.

Targeting 100 students, RASSR exposes them to a cutting-edge curriculum built around core concepts, problems and applications for Math, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Integrated Science, Technology and Engineering. RASSR gives students insight into possible career paths they can explore.

Given the direction the country is heading, moulding the minds of young people is crucial in meeting the need for having specialised talent, if the country is to continue its accelerated growth.

The GGI is also supporting the Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme which will see the expansion of hydroponics farming in Regions Two, Five and Ten. The hydroponics farming programme aims to empower hundreds of young people, while at the same time significantly increasing the output of agricultural produce.

They are expected to be provided with agricultural skills using hydroponics technology that will assist CARICOM to reduce its food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

In 2023, Guyana’s economy grew by 38.4 per cent and is slated to further grow by 20 per cent on average from 2024 to 2028 according to the International Monetary Fund. The production of oil offshore Guyana was credited for the accelerated growth.

While the Government of Guyana is doing its part to develop its human resources, the programmes funded by the GGI are strategically positioning Guyanese to recognise the opportunities ahead and to take advantage of what the future holds.