$20B Technical Training College commissioned in Berbice

…Region 6 becomes O&G training capital

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday commissioned the $20 billion Guyana Technical Training College Inc (GTTCI) at Port Mourant, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), declaring that the region has now been formally designated the national capital for oil and gas technical training as the Government moves to convert oil wealth into a highly skilled Guyanese workforce.
Addressing a large gathering at the state-of-the-art facility, the President said the investment represents far more than new buildings and equipment. “It’s an investment in a workforce, an investment in the future of our country,” he stated, emphasising that the college forms a central pillar of the Government’s strategy to transform Guyana’s human capital base.

The GTTCI, built and funded by the Government, is ready to deliver world-class certification in technical disciplines critical to the oil and gas sector, including production operations, instrumentation, electrical, and mechanical training.
President Ali said the institution was initially designed to serve Guyanese but is already positioned to attract trainees from Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and other regional territories involved in deep-water energy development.
“Region Six has been designated the national capital for oil and gas technical training,” the President declared, urging residents to appreciate the scale of what that designation means. He noted that the facility aligns directly with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s development vision of converting oil revenues into sustainable, long-term national capacity.
The President explained that the college directly advances the Government’s human capital development agenda by transforming Guyana’s population into a highly skilled workforce capable of sustaining a modern industrial economy, pointing out that the realisation of the vision is in the party’s manifesto.
He said, adding that the GTTCI will train Guyanese in technical disciplines essential to supporting the oil and gas corporation and related industries.
He also linked the institution to Guyana’s Local Content Act and broader economic objectives, noting that the country must ensure its citizens and businesses benefit directly from oil production. By producing certified technicians, process operators, and industrial maintenance specialists, the college will help meet local content targets and reduce reliance on imported labour.
President Ali underscored that the decision to locate the facility in Berbice reflects a deliberate policy of regional equity and balanced national growth.
“Development must not be concentrated only in Region Four,” he said, describing the GTTCI as evidence that an entire industrial ecosystem is now being anchored in Region Six.

Support economic diversification
Apart from oil and gas, he said the campus is designed to support economic diversification, including manufacturing, energy utilities, infrastructure construction, and the food industry. Plans are also underway to modernise and upgrade the GuySuCo Training Institute to match the capacity and capability of the new technical college, further integrating training systems across sectors.
Region Six, long known as Guyana’s agricultural hub, is also set to see the establishment of a state-of-the-art agricultural training facility to support the industrialisation of agriculture and the expansion of the food industry. The President said this multi-sector training push is part of a master plan to align manpower planning with national development priorities.
“That is why we renamed the Ministry the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning,” he explained, stressing the importance of identifying skills gaps and reorganising workforce capacity to meet the demands of a rapidly modernising economy.
The Head of State also outlined complementary infrastructure developments that will further strengthen Region Six’s economic position, including the construction of a new teaching hospital with specialised research capabilities and a cardiac centre expected to serve the wider region. He noted that the next hospital to be built in the area will function as a teaching hospital, integrating medical education with healthcare delivery.
He pointed to ongoing improvements in sporting infrastructure, including upgrades at the Berbice stadium, and referenced future energy and port developments that will deepen regional industrial activity. He said decisions related to Phase Two of the gas-to-energy project and associated infrastructure are expected in the coming months, with long-term plans targeting 2030 for major integrated developments.
However, he emphasised that the GTTCI stands as a cornerstone of Guyana’s long-term transformation strategy.
“The development we pursue is temporary in the sense of the time it takes to build the facilities and infrastructure, but the results of that development are lasting,” he said.
He described the facility as a vehicle for youth empowerment and social mobility, providing young Guyanese with access to stable employment, high wages, and technical career progression. By positioning Guyana as a regional leader in energy and industrial expertise, the college will contribute to national competitiveness and regional leadership.
The responsibility for ensuring Guyana’s transformation, he said, rests squarely on the current generation of leadership. He expressed determination to see the master plan executed within his tenure, stressing that the investments being made today are intended to secure long-term prosperity for future generations.