Dear Editor,
Not long ago, a friend told me how proud she felt pulling on her coveralls for her first offshore rotation. She laughed and said, “Who would’ve thought I’d end up on a rig?” For years, oil and gas felt like a man’s world: distant, technical, and untouchable.
It made me curious. Could this industry finally be opening up to more Guyanese than we ever imagined? Today, more than 6,200 Guyanese are part of the oil and gas workforce, which is now 70% local. And here’s the part that makes me smile: more than 2,000 are women. One in three.
That is history being rewritten in real time. Women are not just joining the industry; they are shaping it. Engineers, geoscientists, safety officers, and offshore technicians are proving that skill and leadership have no gender.
But progress is not finished. Too many Guyanese, especially women, are still in support roles. That is why training, mentorship, and opportunity matter. Every internship, every scholarship, every chance to learn opens a door not just for individuals but for future generations. Imagine the little girl in Essequibo, Lethem, or Berbice who can now see herself not only working offshore but also sitting at the head of the table.
Seventy percent Guyanese. One in three women. These numbers are more than statistics; they are proof that our oil story is being told by us. Every time a woman climbs higher in this industry, she is not only building her career but also building a legacy.
And that is something worth celebrating.
Sincerely,
Leah October
