$100M OSH Centre of Excellence opens in Region Six

Sep 12, 2026 News

The newly commissioned OSH Center of Excellence, in Region Six

(Kaieteur News) – A $100 million Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Centre of Excellence was commissioned on Friday in Region Six, with officials describing it as the first of its kind in Guyana.

The facility, located in the compound of the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI), is intended to strengthen occupational safety training and promote a stronger safety culture in workplaces across the country.

A ceremonial sod-turning ceremony was held at the site in July 2025, paving the way for construction of the facility.

Government and other officials at Friday’s commissioning ceremony

The centre will be administered by the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning (MLMP) and is the result of a partnership involving the Ministries of Labour and Education, the Greater Guyana Initiative, the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), LearnCorp International, ExxonMobil Guyana and its Stabroek Block partners.

Among its main objectives are advancing workplace safety, sensitising workers and employers, and strengthening the country’s overall occupational safety culture.

Ministers Sonia Parag and Keoma Griffith assists with the ribbon cutting

Minister of Labour, Keoma Griffith told the gathering that the centre represents an investment in workforce development, occupational safety, technical excellence and the sustainable development of Guyana.

Griffith also delivered remarks on behalf of President Irfaan Ali, who said Guyana’s rapid economic transformation has brought with it new workplace risks.

“Guyana is changing rapidly. We are building more, we are manufacturing more, we are expanding mining construction, we are developing our oil and gas sector, we are expanding infrastructure. This economic transformation is welcomed; however, rapid development also brings new risks, new technologies, new workplaces and categories of workers. As industries expand, as workplaces evolve, and as new technology emerges, the responsibility to safeguard workplaces and workers become even greater,” the minister read from the President’s statement.

Against this backdrop, President Ali said the country’s safety framework must adapt where necessary.

He also emphasised the need for more frequent workplace inspections, tighter enforcement and greater emphasis on education and sensitisation in occupational safety and health.

“Safety cannot be left to chance. Today, we are putting in place another important part of the architecture that will allow us to make safety a national standard…may every lesson taught within these walls translate to one fewer accident, one fewer injury, and most importantly, fewer grieving families,” the President stated.

Griffith said the centre directly complements the work of the Labour Ministry, particularly its “Putting Safety First” campaign.

Labor Minister Keoma Griffith and Education Minister Sonia Parag inspect the new facility

According to the minister, the campaign has a presence in every region and continues to promote awareness and encourage workers and employers to make safety a priority.

The centre will serve as the central point for the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) Level 3 OSH programme and will function as both a national and regional hub.

Minister of Education Sonia Parag, in her remarks, said Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) provides important alternatives for persons who may not be academically inclined.

She also noted that 94 schools across Guyana have incorporated the CVQ programme into their curriculum.

“Most of our communities in Guyana are rural communities, hinterland communities, and what matters most in those communities is gaining a technical skill. The fact that we have established a centre of excellence tells you we are not looking through a narrow tunnel. We are having a broader vision…”

“I hope you understand how this fits into the broader economic vision that the president has for this country. I hope you understand that this also contributes to the broader vision of our social circumstances and to better the lives of our people,” Parag said.

The commissioning ceremony was attended by President of ExxonMobil Guyana Alistair Routledge, officials from the Ministries of Labour and Education, and representatives from Region Six.

The event also saw the participation of the Centre’s first cohort of trainees.

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