Dear Editor,
I am pleased to see more attention being given to women’s participation in skills development and non-traditional areas of work. Programs that encourage women to build confidence, learn practical skills and enter new fields should not be treated as side stories. They are part of Guyana’s workforce development.
For too long, certain industries and technical areas have been seen mainly as spaces for men. That mindset has limited many women from even imagining themselves in those roles.
But Guyana is changing. The economy is expanding. New industries are emerging. The oil and gas sector and its related services are creating demand for people with technical, administrative, business, safety, logistics, digital and leadership skills. Women must not be left at the edge of these opportunities.
When women receive training, mentorship and exposure, it does more than help one individual. It can change a family, a workplace and a community. A woman who gains a skill may start a business, qualify for a better job, support her children, mentor others or enter a field she once thought was closed to her. That is why women-focused training initiatives matter.
However, we should be careful not to reduce women’s participation to nice photographs and slogans. Inclusion must be practical. Women need access to information, training, certification, financing, childcare support where possible, safe work environments and real pathways into employment or entrepreneurship.
It is also important for young women to see examples of other women working in technical and non-traditional areas. Representation matters because it helps people believe that a path is possible.
At the same time, women must be prepared for the required standards. Confidence is important, but so are discipline, punctuality, safety awareness, communication, financial management and continuous learning.
Opportunities in a growing economy will not remain basic forever. They will become more competitive. This means women must be equipped not only to enter new fields, but to grow and lead within them.
Guyana cannot build a strong future workforce while leaving half of its talent underprepared or underrepresented. If we are serious about national development, then women’s skills development must be seen as part of the main agenda, not an extra.
The country needs all its talent. Women must be prepared, included and taken seriously in the opportunities ahead.
Sincerely,
Samantha Browne
