Guyana’s rapidly expanding offshore oil and gas industry is creating growing demand for maritime professionals, making careers in the sector increasingly important to the country’s economic future, according to SBM Offshore Guyana Country Manager Martin Cheong.
Addressing students and job seekers at the MatPal Marine Institute Career Exhibition on June 19 at the National Cultural Centre tarmac, Cheong said young Guyanese are entering the workforce at a time when opportunities are expanding alongside energy development.
“When some people hear the word maritime, they’re thinking about working on the ships or working long hours out at sea. But maritime careers are much broader than that. They include people who help move goods, support offshore operations, manage vessels, maintain equipment, keep the team safe, and connect Guyana to the wider world,” he said.
Cheong added that “as a country, with the growth projection that was just discussed, these [maritime] careers are becoming more and more essential to supporting not only the energy sector, but our national development,” Cheong said.
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With billions of dollars being invested in offshore projects and supporting infrastructure, he said the industry requires skilled personnel to support offshore logistics and other services that keep offshore developments functioning efficiently.
“For young people considering your future, this is an exciting time. There are opportunities that did not exist the same way for generations ago. You must prepare yourself. You must be willing to learn, to work hard, and to maintain openness to new possibilities,” he encouraged.
Cheong said SBM Offshore is continuing to support workforce development through internships, training programs, educational partnerships, and career outreach initiatives aimed at preparing Guyanese for opportunities emerging from the country’s economic growth.
While acknowledging that the oil and gas industry itself does not employ large numbers of people directly, he said the skills being developed through maritime and energy-related training can create pathways into a broad range of industries.
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“We believe that investing in people is one of the most important investments we can make… One of the things I was just discussing with the mayor was that the oil and gas is limited in terms of its workforce footprint. At SBM, our goal is to ensure that we’re able to support young persons to be able to understand the industry and help you prepare yourself for the various industries that are evolving in Guyana,” the SBM Offshore Country Manager said.
The Matpal Marine Institute Career Exhibition brought together industry representatives, training institutions and students as Guyana continues to build the workforce needed to support its growing maritime, logistics and offshore energy sectors.
