“Focus on your career ahead”– MATPAL rep to 2nd batch of marine cadets

Twenty young Guyanese have embarked on a life-changing journey as the second cohort of the Noble Marine Cadet Programme, an initiative spearheaded by El Dorado Offshore (EDO), Noble Corporation, and MATPAL Marine Institute.
The programme is designed to equip aspiring Deck and Engineering Cadets with the skills, experience, and mentorship needed to thrive in Guyana’s rapidly-expanding offshore energy sector.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, MATPAL Marine Institute Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Coleen Abrams emphasised that now was the perfect time for young people to seize opportunities in the oil and gas sector. She noted that Guyana’s maritime industry remained underdeveloped in this area, making specialised training essential.
Abrams also underscored the long-term commitment required, reminding the scholarship awardees that the programme was a four-year journey, not a short-term engagement.
“You are coming into a field where at least four of you have experience, the other 16 may not have as much experience if any at all. In coming into that field, I am sure there are a lot of expectations from you and a lot will be expected of you; therefore, come with an open mind… Your career is what is paramount for you; your career is what you should be focusing on and, therefore, when it does come, you will know what to do.
“It is a four-year journey, it is not a one-month, it is not a four-month but a four-year journey; therefore, it requires that you be resilient, that you be committed, that you be serious minded about the career path that you have chosen,” Abrams encouraged.
Meanwhile, Noble Corporation’s Captain Christopher Forlizzi revealed that this year’s selection process was intensely competitive, with over 1000 applicants vying for just 20 spots.
He encouraged the selected cadets to give their best effort, not just for themselves but for future applicants who will follow in their footsteps.
“Last year, the first scholarships, we interviewed 12 people and the goal was to choose five; we didn’t do very well because we have six. This year, there was over a 1000 for this opportunity… The only thing that we asked of you is that you dedicate yourself 100 per cent to this opportunity and you make sure that you pave the way for the group next year and we look to continue this,” Forlizzi said.
The four-year programme provides a unique blend of 18 months of classroom-based education and 18 months of offshore training, designed to ensure participants receive both theoretical grounding and practical, hands-on experience. Cadets benefit from comprehensive tuition coverage and professional guidance from industry veterans, enabling them to focus fully on their development without financial strain.
To remain eligible, cadets must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.2 throughout their training and achieve 85 per cent attendance in all required sessions, both classroom-based and offshore. These rigorous standards ensure that each graduate of the programme is exceptionally prepared to assume critical roles in Guyana’s offshore industry, supporting the country’s goals of local workforce development and sector growth.