Two Guyanese, Nevon Arno and Bevon Craig, are preparing to travel to Singapore to ready Newrest Guyana’s team for its journey on the ONE GUYANA floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel to the Stabroek Block.
Nevon Arno, a Campboss at Newrest Guyana, has been with the company for five years. Her career started in the kitchen, and she has steadily risen through the ranks.
“I was working as a cook before joining Newrest,” Nevon shared. “I was introduced to the opportunity by M. Lydia, who was recruiting at Carnegie. It’s been a privilege to be among the first Guyanese to experience the oil and gas industry.”
Newrest Guyana is a subsidiary of the French-based Newrest Group International, which operates globally, providing catering and food services across all catering and related hospitality segments.
Her progression has been built on hard work and mentorship. “I’ve had some of the best mentors, people with years of experience in the industry. Moving from a cook to a Head Chef and then to Campboss has been quite a journey,” she explained.
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Nevon’s role involves managing the daily welfare of staff on board. She will oversee a team of over 160 people on the ONE GUYANA FPSO. “We create a home away from home. Activities like game nights and movie nights help ease the workload and bring the team closer.”
While rewarding, the job comes with challenges. “Being away from family is tough, and it’s a male-dominated field,” she admitted. “But as long as you stay focused, nothing can derail you from your goals.”
Her advice to young professionals? “Just do it. Don’t think about failures. Focus on what you can achieve. The experience is vastly different from working on land but equally rewarding.”
First Steps Offshore: Bevon Craig
Bevon Craig, who joined Newrest Guyana just over a year ago, is preparing for his first offshore assignment as a housekeeper on the ONE GUYANA FPSO.
Bevon was introduced to the industry through a friend. “When I first applied, I was interviewed for an offshore position but started as a storekeeper. I later asked for a chance to go offshore, and now I’m excited about this new step,” he said.
Coming from a family of carpenters and teachers, Bevon chose a different path. “I wanted to try something new and elevate myself. The oil and gas sector offered a unique chance to grow and gain exposure,” he noted.
Bevon’s duties will include maintaining living spaces on the vessel, which will accommodate up to 150 people. Though excited, he acknowledged the challenges of being away during the holidays. “I’ll miss spending Christmas with my family, but this is an opportunity to take on more responsibility and represent my company well.”
He aspires to grow in his career, aiming to become a supervisor and eventually an assistant Campboss. His passion for cooking, inspired by his late grandmother, plays a role in his ambition. “She was a chef, and I’d love to follow in her footsteps someday.”
For young people considering offshore work, Bevon’s advice is clear: “Start young, stay focused, and work hard. This is a field where you can mature and build a strong foundation for your future.”
The ONE GUYANA vessel will target around 250,000 barrels of oil per day (b/d). The addition of the ONE GUYANA vessel will raise ExxonMobil’s total crude production capacity in Guyana above 900,000 b/d. With its startup, Guyana will become the world’s largest per capita producer of oil, at more than a barrel per capita.
ExxonMobil is operator of the Stabroek Block with a 45% stake, Hess has 30% and CNOOC holds 25%.
