THE Ministry of Labour, on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, hosted a high-level meeting with senior representatives of OPITO, the Global Skills Organisation for the Energy Industry, to advance plans for delivering internationally-recognised training and certification in Guyana’s energy sector.

The meeting, held at the Ministry’s Boardroom, brought together OPITO Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Stephen Jones, and Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for South America, Mr. Patrick Modolo, alongside senior officials of the Ministry of Labour.

Also attending were Chief Executive Officer of the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), Mr. Richard Maughn; Chief Recruitment and Manpower Officer, Ms. Yolanda Grant; Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Consultant, Ms. Gweneth King; Assistant Chief OSH Officers, Mr. Roydon Crol and Ms. Maxean Bess; Senior Personnel Officer, Mr. Vishnu Tularam; Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of BIT, Ms. Natecia Garraway; and BIT Technical Officer, Mr. Rohan Bishop.

The discussions focused on building a strategic partnership to deliver internationally-certified training in key areas for the energy industry, including emergency response, technical operations, competency development, emergency management, sustainability, and other priority skills. Specific training areas under consideration include International Minimum Industry Safety, Sea Survival and Helicopter Escape, Fire & Emergency Response, Safe Diving, Lifting Operations, and Control procedures.

The collaboration aims to equip Guyana’s workforce with globally-recognised qualifications to support the safe and efficient development of the country’s rapidly expanding oil and gas sector.
The Ministry and OPITO will continue talks over the coming weeks to finalise details and implementation strategies for the proposed training initiative.