Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, praised the Guyana Shore Base Inc. (GYSBI) for its significant contribution to local content development during his address at the company’s career fair today. He emphasized that GYSBI has become a model of excellence for local companies engaging in Guyana’s booming oil and gas sector, as it has successfully demonstrated that local content is both “very real and very achievable.”
Minister Singh underscored that GYSBI’s success exemplifies the potential of local companies to compete at international standards. He referred to GYSBI’s work with Stbaroek Block operator, ExxonMobil as a testament to their world-class capabilities, competing with global companies while maintaining its commitment to excellence. “This story of GYSBI… demonstrates that this thing that you hear about that is called local content is very real and very achievable by Guyanese companies that demonstrate a commitment to and a capacity for excellence,” Singh said.
He called on the job fair attendees to recognize the achievements of GYSBI and to use the company’s story as inspiration for their own professional journeys. “I feel we must really applaud because you provided a remarkable example for Guyanese companies, and an example that is most worthy of emulation,” Singh stated, addressing GYSBI. “It is a story that was instructive as we went about the task of crafting a legal framework on local content to require and obligate the oil and gas industry to do business with Guyanese companies and Guyanese nationals.”
The 2021 Local Content Act, a key piece of legislation championed by the government, demands that oil and gas operators prioritize the hiring of Guyanese nationals and the procurement of goods and services from local businesses. The Act sets specific targets for local employment and outlines penalties for companies that fail to comply. This framework, Minister Singh said, has been pivotal in ensuring that the wealth generated by the oil and gas industry directly benefits the people of Guyana.
The event attracted over 1,300 participants by midday, all vying for the approximately 200 positions available with GYSBI. While congratulating the future hires, Singh also reassured the other applicants that this event is part of a larger effort to ensure that every Guyanese who seeks employment will have opportunities, particularly within the oil and gas sector.
He reiterated that GYSBI is building a database for future recruitment, encouraging attendees to perform well in their interviews. “The lucky 200 who will be hired out of this process, congratulations in advance. You are well on your way,” he said. “And to the others whose names will be added to the database… make sure you do a good interview… because that will elevate your chances of being a part of this Guyana story.”
Dr. Singh was careful to point out that opportunities alone are not enough—work ethic is equally essential. He explained that Guyana’s development isn’t just about new infrastructure, roads, and jobs; it’s about fostering a disciplined and motivated workforce. He cautioned against a lackadaisical attitude towards work, stressing, “This new modern and prosperous Guyana cannot be about people who come to work for the first two weeks, then skip days in the third week because they feel tired or have social obligations.” He emphasized that success will come to those who demonstrate “a capacity for and a commitment to hard and disciplined work.”
The Finance Minister ended his address by encouraging job seekers to remain hopeful, even if they are not immediately hired. With Guyana’s oil and gas industry continuing to grow, Singh assured the audience that more opportunities will be on the horizon. “Congratulations to those who get offered a job immediately, and to those who don’t get offered a job immediately, don’t give up hope,” he said. “There are many, many more opportunities with this company and with many other companies.”
