-by Celestine Chacon

Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith, has underscored that the success of local content in Guyana must not be measured only by the value of contracts awarded, but also by the opportunities it generates for citizens, businesses, and communities throughout the country.

He made these remarks while addressing participants on day two of the Local Content Summit, currently being held at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Georgetown.

Griffith said Guyana’s local content law represents a national commitment to ensure opportunities from the country’s natural resources benefit citizens directly.

“The local content act was not simply a piece of legislation. It was a declaration of national intent. It represented a commitment that the opportunities emerging from our natural resources would not bypass our people, but instead become a catalyst for national advancement,” he said.

The labour minister stressed that workforce development remains central to the government’s local content agenda, driven by the belief that every Guyanese should have a meaningful opportunity to contribute to and benefit from national development.

“Every Guyanese who seeks to participate in this nation’s development must be equipped with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to compete and succeed at the highest possible standard,” he added.

As part of this commitment, Griffith highlighted the progress made by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), which has already achieved approximately 70 per cent of its annual training target for 2026.

As of April, 1,679 persons had enrolled in 85 training programmes being offered across the country. The programmes are designed to equip participants with marketable skills that align with the demands of key sectors of the economy.