Answering the local content call: Neil Hitlall tackles Guyana’s construction challenges

May 12, 2025 Features / Columnists, News, Waterfalls Magazine

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Kaieteur News- With a Guyanese father, a Barbadian mother, and years of experience in the construction industry, Neil Hitlall felt compelled to explore the Guyanese market when President Irfaan Ali issued a call for skilled professionals to help Guyana’s booming construction sector.

“So, I answered that call, and I felt the need to come and offer my knowledge base and skill set to this beautiful developing nation,” Hitlall shared during an interview with this publication.

Hitlall is the founder and owner of Caribbean Building Concepts and Logistics Inc. (CBCL), a 100% Guyanese company which officially opened back in August 2022. Now, with over two years of experience doing business locally, Hitlall describes the journey as rewarding but not without its hurdles.

“There’s a gap in the market as it relates to the quality of materials you receive, the timeliness of shipping and clearance of containers… because of the deep-water harbour situation, so there’s congestion. And then the inconsistencies in the pricing of materials, it throws you off a lot,” he explained.

Adapting to Guyana’s construction landscape, he added, has meant grappling with deeply rooted structural issues, particularly around oversight and safety. “There has to be one band, one song across the board. And I find that here, some processes are fair but some, not so much,” he said carefully.

Beyond materials and logistics, Hitlall has also faced the challenge of finding workers who can meet international standards. To address this skills gap, he has taken a hands-on approach by actively training individuals on the job.
“So even if they’re not working with my company, they can still take that skill set and knowledge with them,” he said.

So far, CBCL has trained 19 workers in specialties including aluminum fabrication, rendered finishes, wall finishes, carpentry, joinery, tiling, and even information technology. His core staff now includes about 37 people, ranging from structural and Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) engineers to architects, interior designers, project managers, and site foremen.

Many of his workers are Guyanese who were trained abroad. “To be quite honest with you too, the majority of my guys that are on my workforce are guys that worked with me internationally. They are local Guyanese guys, but they worked with me internationally. So they know my standard, and they know their skill set, and they know the quality that I look for at the end of the day,” he explained.

Hitlall acknowledged that while Guyana’s market is crowded with construction firms, CBCL focuses on high-end finishes, modern techniques, and a quality standard he believes is still lacking locally.

“We do construction and engineering, but we do it on a different level, so to speak. We provide a niche quality to construction that the market is currently lacking. We’re internationally trained and certified, and we’ve worked in other markets throughout the Caribbean and neighbouring facilities, which puts us in a position where we understand quality, high-end finishes, modern techniques and designs,” he said.

Looking ahead, Hitlall hopes to secure more public and private projects while helping CBCL become a household name for quality construction. Securing his company’s local content certificate last year, he noted, was smoother than expected.

“We received our local content certificate on the 13th of August, 2024. And I must say, the process was quite smooth. Once we made the application, they reached out to us, and we provided all the information, and within six days, we had it,” he said.

He believes that balancing local content requirements with quality control is possible if companies commit to building people, not just projects.

“We’re going to bring these guys in, and we’re going to train them up and get them going. Because that’s how we build not just projects, we build people. And that’s how we really help the country grow,” he emphasized.
He believes that this certification is vital as it underscores CBCL commitment to contributing to the local economy, playing their part in the development of the world’s fastest growing economy.

For other members of the Guyanese diaspora thinking about returning to invest, his advice is simple: start by understanding the landscape.

“I think the first point of entry mentally for any businessperson looking to invest here would be to attend the Guyana Energy Conference. That’s the first step, knowing the market players, the investors, and understanding what you can bring to this chain,” he advised.

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