The Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI) held its second annual Stakeholder Forum at the Guyana Marriott Hotel on October 31. The event brought together beneficiaries from all of Guyana’s 10 Administrative Regions for a day of reflection, dialogue, and collaboration on sustainable development across the country.
This year’s theme was ‘Youth in STEM: Transforming Guyana’s Technological Landscape, Building a Solid Future for Tomorrow’. In a press statement shared on November 3, GGI stated that the discussions focused on how ongoing investments in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) are empowering young people and shaping a more innovative, self-reliant nation.
A key feature of the event was a panel discussion that included Deedra Moe, Global Manager of Socio-Economic Management at ExxonMobil; Farah Jairam, Air Emissions Advisor at ExxonMobil Guyana Limited; Carlos Baird, Welding Instructor at Leonora Technical and Vocational Training Centre; Jayda Overton, Vice President of the University of Guyana Society of Petroleum Engineers; and Nalini Chanderban, General Manager and Accountable Manager at the Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School Inc.
The forum included a STEM Mingle session where students from secondary schools, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, and the University of Guyana could interact directly with industry experts through informal tabletop discussions. These sessions promoted mentorship, knowledge exchange, and the practical application of STEM fields.
Building on youth innovation, the program shifted to ‘Rooted in Community, Rising Together: Investing in Tomorrow’s Possibilities’. Stakeholders reflected on projects, assessed impact, and explored new cross-sector opportunities in education, entrepreneurship, and health.
Delivering the feature address, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., underscored the importance of corporate social responsibility. He stated that Guyana is undergoing a positive transformation, making partnerships such as the one with the Greater Guyana Initiative essential.
From the corporate leadership perspective, Alistair Routledge, President of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, highlighted Guyana’s journey to prosperity and the role GGI continues to play in accelerating national development.
“It’s about accelerating the benefits, it’s about reaching out to people where they are, to the communities around the country, and listening to them,” he said. “What we are doing with the Greater Guyana Initiative is much more than the individual programs. We are also building a culture that will be incredibly important for the sustainable prosperity of the country.”
Lian Jihong, President of CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, emphasized the long-term value of the partnership. “GGI is an investment in the people; it is an investment in our future. It is building the skills, confidence and opportunities that will last for generations,” he said.
The initiative’s tangible impact was further illustrated by Lorna Carlson, Socio-Economic Manager at ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, who highlighted the recently launched FLOW Project. This initiative aims to provide clean drinking water to an estimated 58,000 students by 2029.
Annette Arjoon-Martins, Managing Director of the Guyana Marine Conservation Society and GGI implementing partner, expressed gratitude to GGI for its support for the society’s work with communities in the Barima-Mora Passage through the Sustainability Enablers Project and the Green Enterprise Support Project.
“Our GGI partnerships brought water-harvesting capacity to the Warrau communities there, provided solar lights, and supported our marine research centre located in Imbotero,” she noted.
GGI supports capacity-building programs across Guyana over a ten-year period, focusing on education and training, economic development, and community health. Through these investments, the programme aims to strengthen the local workforce, enhance the competitiveness of Guyanese businesses, and lay the foundation for sustained economic growth.
The Greater Guyana Initiative is supported by the Stabroek Block co-venturers ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Hess Guyana Exploration Limited, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited.
