Toronto Job Fair: PSC Chair urges Canadian diaspora to form consortiums, partner with Guyanese companies

– says PPP/C Govt is one that works with, not hinders private sector

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) over the weekend partnered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Diaspora Unit, to organise a Toronto job fair, aimed at attracting not only skilled Guyanese/Canadians to return home and employ those skills, but also for businesses from the diaspora community to seek business partnerships in Guyana.

The job fair was held at the Toronto Don Valley Hotel and Suites, and saw more than 250 attendees participating. During the job fair, attendees signal strong interest in jobs, investment opportunities, and returning home to contribute.
PSC Chairman, Komal Singh, was in attendance, and expressed support for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s economic policies and the work of the Diaspora Unit to attract Guyanese home. Singh went on to urge them to explore the opportunities available in Guyana.
“What is taking place right now, can actually expand beyond the boundaries of Guyana. And help everyone. Together we are here as the private sector, along with the Government, to solicit your interest in coming back home, not just to be workers in companies and organisations. There are huge amounts of investment opportunities, in almost every sector.”
“You can form yourselves into consortiums, you can come to Guyana, you can find local partners in Guyana. There are many, many small businesses in Guyana right now. That want to develop, but they lack technical capability. They lack the experience. They lack access to finance. That’s where you come in from the diaspora unit.”
As such, Singh urged the Canadian diaspora to have conversations and to work with them, noting that they will receive a warm reception. He also made it clear that the PPP/C Government is willing and ready to assist them when they return.
As a matter of fact, he contrasted the current Government’s posture with the 2015 to 2020 period, when much needed private sector investments were not being facilitated or encouraged by the then A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government’s policies.
“We have a Government today, that works very closely with the private sector. And they allow the private sector to grow. This Government has removed significant barriers, that prohibited the private sector from growing. In 2020, when (the PPP/C) took back office, the private sector had close to US$1 billion sitting in investments.”
“If that investment would have been completed, we would not have been behind in the oil and gas sector. Right now, we are catching up, because a lot of those infrastructure was supposed to be in place in 2016. But it was lagging behind,” Singh further said.
The first Guyanese diaspora job fair was held in July 2024, with 16 Guyanese private sector companies participating in the event in New York, seeking to recruit individuals for vacant positions within their organisations.
Canada has one of the largest Guyanese diaspora populations outside of Guyana’s shores. There has already been significant interest from Guyanese/Canadians, in reinvesting in their homeland, such as in the case of the ‘Timehri Sands Golf & Country Club (G&CC)’.
The project is being developed by a Canadian-based Guyanese family, with the sod turning for the US$3 million golf course having been held in January of last year. Conceptualised by Christopher and Hess DaSilva, this facility will be located near the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. According to the DaSilvas, it will provide easy access for both local golfers and international travellers with the added opportunity to introduce golf to new markets within the Guyanese population.
They added that the golf course will be modern, built on a fast and firm sand-based property ideally suited for golf. This will promote a traditional ground game, playing over many rolling and bumpy contours and undulations. There will be three sets of tee decks per hole, allowing all levels of golfers to play the golf course to develop and challenge their game.