By Stabroek News

Copyright stabroeknews

Dear Editor,

Despite extensive development projects—roads, bridges, hospitals, and major initiatives like the new Demerara Harbour Bridge and Linden to Mabura Road—many Guyanese feel these signs of progress have insignificant effect on their quality of life. High GDP growth (10.3% in 2025), strong reserves $(US) 1 billion, low inflation (2.9%), and rising per capita GDP ($US 29,883) offer minimal comfort. Instead, people seek improvements that directly enhance their personal and family well-being as well as alleviate their economic and social challenges.

In the 2025 elections, voters prioritized personal, family, and community development over infrastructure projects. In Region 10 (Linden), despite the PPP/C’s heavy campaigning and highlighting of projects, they gained only 1,098 more votes than in 2020. The new WIN party, with no political history, received 2.4 times as many votes as the PPP/C, appealing to voters with, promises of livable wages, cost of living relief, larger cash grants, and neighbourhood revitalization as well as criticizing the PPP/C’s handling of corruption. Infrastructure achievements were marginal to their campaign messages.

Guyana is becoming more materialistic, with many seeking immediate rewards especially from its oil revenue. The US$3.1 billion in the NRF (Natural Resources Fund) is especially enticing. Many people struggle to see the value in infrastructure projects and, while rallies generate enthusiasm, there remains dissatisfied individuals who prefer direct benefits like cash grants to address urgent needs.

The PPP/C government has announced another one-off cash grant (over $(G) 100,000) before Christmas 2025. However, ongoing grants could encourage dependency and raise sustainability concerns. If cash grants are needed, they should be conditional and targeted at easing living costs, supporting business startups, home ownership, education advancement, or job creation.

Providing employment, free education, free healthcare, affordable housing, and livable wages and safe neighbourhoods can help address economic and social challenges. Cash grants alone will not accomplish these goals. It is noted that employment opportunities are available in Guyana, particularly in agriculture, construction, transport, logistics, health, and oil and gas sectors. Despite the existence of vacancies, many unemployed Guyanese do not possess the required skills to fill these positions. For example, the construction sector faces a workforce shortage of approximately 50% (CLBD).

The government is addressing labour force issues by rapidly expanding technical and vocational training through TVET and BIT programmes across all 10 regions. Training covers subjects like carpentry, masonry, auto mechanics, welding, computer programming, CCTV installation, data analysis, AC, and refrigeration. From 2020–2024, BIT produced an average of 2,553 graduates yearly; in 2023 TVET graduated 1,771 students with 4,255 registered for TVET in 2024. More females complete BIT programmes, while TVET sees higher male enrollment and graduation.

A Labour Ministry tracer survey of 228 BIT graduates found that only 19% worked in their field of training, 56% were employed elsewhere, and 24% did not respond. This mismatch between TVET/BIT programmes and labour force needs do highlight the urgent need to update courses to better match current skills demands.

Alongside TVET (Technical, Vocational and Educational Training) and BIT (Board of Industrial Training) centers, state agencies such as the Guyana School of Agriculture, Ministry of Human Services (WIN program), University of Guyana, and GuySuCo also provide training, though available data was not accessible.

According to a Private Sector Commission’s source, about 10,000 workers have received training through local and international programmes. For instance, some workers recently participated in SBM Offshore Guyana’s Trainee Technician Programme in Canada for technical skills development, with Phase 2 taking place at the $(US) 13 million FacTor Simulator Unit funded by Exxon and Partners at Port Mourant, Corentyne.

A CLBD (Center for Local Business Development) study shows Guyana will need 52,396 more workers in four years. If local training is insufficient, migrant labour may be needed, but the government is enhancing training programmes to prioritize local workforce development. The Ministry of Labour is now the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning (MLMP), emphasizing skills training and AI technology for the Guyanese workforce. Minister Keoma Griffith should assess how skills acquisition and AI affect employment level, as these factors relate to unemployment, poverty rate, and social well-being.

Sincerely,

Dr Tara Singh