Carefully examine local content proposals submitted by private bodies – GOGEC urges

The Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC) has issued a call to the Government to ensure that the Local Content Panel carefully examines the local content proposals that were submitted by private sector entities.
This, according to the Chamber, is to ensure that the Guyanese people are not left behind.
GOGEC reminded that the draft Local Content Policy which was proposed by the APNU/AFC administration was done without meaningful consultations, advice and recommendations which were submitted by the local content experts.
The Chamber added that it would be monitoring the actions of the Local Content Panel as well as be committed to assisting in the work.
“GOGEC is happy that President Irfaan Ali has appointed a Local Content Panel with knowledgeable and experienced individuals, both local and foreign. The energy chamber is also happy that among others, Dr Anthony Paul is on board with former Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine and our own private Sector man Shyam Nokta, who is chairing this panel…The benefit must trickle down to all Guyanese, especially the poor and vulnerable,” the Manniram Prashad-led organisation said in a statement.
President Ali, at the end of August, assembled a high-level team of experts to advise Government on the formulation of a strong local content policy that will ensure all citizens benefit from the country’s lucrative oil and gas sector.
The ‘Local Content Advisory Panel’ will be chaired by President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), Shyam Nokta, and will include former Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge; former Energy Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kevin Ramnarine; and former Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Carvil Duncan.
Also sitting on the panel are Floyd Haynes and Dr Anthony Paul.
Just last week, President Ali reassured that the people of Guyana would also benefit from the opportunities that would become available as more foreign investments are expected to flow in. The President had said that that local content should not just cover the petroleum sector.
“For me, local content is not only about oil and gas. With the massive transformation and the infrastructure projects that will come in place, we need local content there, too,” President Ali told reporters on the sidelines of a recent event at State House.

<<Local Content Panel>>
Nokta holds a Master’s of Science Degree in Environmental Assessment and Management from the University of Oxford–Brookes and a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Studies from the University of Guyana. Nokta has accumulated over 20 years’ experience working in the areas of environmental assessment and management, conservation, tourism development, and climate change.
Greenidge is an Economist who has served as Guyana’s Finance Minister from 1983-1992. An international public servant, he has served in several top-level positions, including as Secretary-General of the ACP Group of States; and in the 10th Parliament, he served as the Opposition Spokesman on Finance and International Economic Cooperation, and as Foreign Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Haynes is a Guyanese-born professional with over 30 years of executive-level experience. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) who holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
Ramnarine served as the Minister of Energy of Trinidad and Tobago (2011 to 2015). During his tenure, he created a positive climate for investment, including the fiscal reforms which resulted in major investments in deep-water exploration. Prior to being appointed Energy Minister, he held positions in the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago, and at British Gas, where he worked as the Lead Economist.
Since leaving Ministerial office, he has worked as an energy consultant and as a lecturer at the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business. In 2014, he was named “Energy Executive of the Year” by the Petroleum Economist magazine.
Dr Paul is the Principal Consultant, Energy and Strategy, Association of Caribbean Energy Specialist Limited. He spearheaded a Rapid Analysis of the State of Readiness of Guyana’s Hydrocarbon Regulatory Framework study facilitated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2016, and played a lead role in the formulation of Guyana’s draft Local Content Policy framework which is currently under review. He has worked with the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Energy, Petrotrin, Amoco, BP T&T and BP plc in London.
Duncan is the former Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC). (G2)