The real staffing question on Oil and Gas

Jan 30, 2021 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

In all the articles written by KN, regarding critical areas, such as the Lack of independent reviews, Feasibility studies, Oil audits, Lack of environmental impact assessment documentation, and so forth; there is one factor that enough emphasis isn’t being placed on, and that is -The Staffing Narrative. Not all of the areas mentioned above, can be achieved, if the skilled staffers are not in place to get these items done – and that is the bottom line.
Oil and Gas Issues are new to Guyana, so who are the staff in Guyana that are expected to address these issues and provide the necessary documentation? Do they already have the prerequisite skills and years working in the Oil and Gas Industry? If not, then that possibly is the CORE of these problems. I for one don’t believe there are many professionals in the diaspora with the necessary experience in Oil and Gas, or Environmental issues as a whole, to even tap from either.
A huge diaspora talent pool just isn’t there for Oil and Gas. We Guyanese don’t gravitate to this field, so is the government going to place job vacancies on “Glassdoor” which is a free and massive global website for employees and skilled candidates in so many industries, from mid-level to executive, full time, part time, even a consultancy gig? Even a rich talent pool can be found for an EPA director, which itself needs specific know-how.
(Why keep embarrassing ourselves in front of the foreign investors and business people new to Guyana, who will draw “conclusions” about us – Guyanese; based on our decision making process, while they are sitting by the sea wall.)
This is a global economy, dominated by Zoom for a long time. Qualified candidates in Oil and Gas don’t even have to live in Guyana. A few corporate trips to Guyana for short stays will suffice – otherwise the nation will be spinning in circles and chasing its own tails, on this subject matter.
Yours faithfully
Chi Kansi

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