International Business Professor, Jerry Haar believes that having unattainable standards in Guyana’s Local Content Policy would be counterproductive.
Professor Haar alluded that the targets for the hiring of skilled Guyanese are unrealistic and should be revised if the country wants to ensure that locals are put in technical positions in the sector.
“The higher you go up the technical ladder, the more difficult it is going to be to find a local that can qualify for that position. And why take second best? You want the top people. You have got a burgeoning oil and gas industry and you need to compete,” he emphasized.
Professor Haar acknowledged that Guyana’s government is throwing millions behind education and training. But at the same time, he questioned whether the timelines in the policy are attainable.
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“…what we don’t want is a bunch of foreigners coming in, swooping down, taking the best jobs but rather to create opportunities for us. But setting up a number of restrictions that are impossible for the present local human capital talent to aspire to, is an exercise in futility,” he added.
In Professor Haar’s view, for a Local Content Policy to succeed, one must boost its human capital and integrate a healthy mix of the diaspora to create a competitive environment.
Professor Haar’s statements made on Jan. 12 on the Jumpstart Radio Show also align with University of Guyana Professor, Dr. Leyland Lucas who noted back in October that rapid skills development needs to be kept at the forefront if Guyana’s Local Content Policy is to succeed.
Dr. Lucas had pointed out that the policy is being implemented at a time when many of the skills that are necessary to really take advantage of the high-end opportunities in the oil sector, just do not exist within the system.
He had said therefore that one of the critical things needed to ensure the law takes shape is the ramping up of skills development while bearing in mind that it will not be fixed overnight.
