President of the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC), Manniram Prashad, has called on Guyanese youth to embrace energy careers as long-term, meaningful pursuits rather than short-term employment opportunities.
“We envision a future where young people see careers in energy not just as jobs, but as lifelong journeys filled with purpose and innovation,” Prasad said during his feature address at the 2025 Guyana Supplier Forum.
He stressed that building a strong local content base requires early engagement and education. “That’s why forums like this are so important. They create space for connection, dialogue and shared learning. They help demystify the process, open doors, and build trust between operators and the supplier community.”
Prashad shared that GOGEC sponsors monthly training sessions for school-aged children across Guyana, exposing them to opportunities in the oil and gas industry. “We pay for everything. We train and give them a one-day information guide,” he said. He recalled a student from Queen’s College who initially disliked the sector. “She said ‘I don’t like the oil and gas sector because I can’t swim’. Could you imagine? They don’t know all the careers that exist, engineering, hospitality, and logistics. That’s what we aim to change.”
Prasad urges leaders to keep investing in youth education. “Be part of this tsunami in education for elites. That’s very important.” He also encouraged youth to adopt a collaborative mindset. “Let us not be over-competitive. Let us not focus on short-term gains. Let us not engage in transactional business only,” he said. “Let us work in partnership.”
ExxonMobil Guyana and its partners utilize many local suppliers for their Guyana operations, including nearly 1,500 unique Guyanese vendors. Guyana’s Local Content Act has established a comprehensive framework that mandates the utilization of Guyanese goods, services, and employment.
Guyana’s Local Content Secretariat estimated that US$720 million in local spend benefited Guyanese companies in 2023.
