Local Content Panel launched

President Dr Irfaan Ali has assembled a high-level team of experts to advise his 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 Hayne and Dr Anthony Paul.
In a statement on the appointments, President Ali explained that the panel is expected to conduct expansive consultation and review and devise recommendations that will inform the country’s Local Content Policy.
“I strongly believe that Guyanese must play an integral role and benefit from the fortunes of the sector,” President Ali said.
While the Head-of-State acknowledged that there is much to be done in terms of capacity building among local stakeholders, he believes that with the right mix, which includes technology transfer and partnership between experienced companies and the local private sector, a sustainable and lucrative pathway can be achieved for Guyanese within the Local Content Policy.
The Office of the President explained that the Government has continuously assured that they will approach the development of the oil and gas sector in a non-partisan manner. In this regard, it was noted that these appointments are part of the Government’s drive to fulfil its manifesto promises as it relates to securing the benefits of oil and gas for all Guyanese.
“The critical areas which are central to the overall strategy in the Oil and Gas Sector are a framework for proper management of resources, transparency and accountability and securing benefits for Guyanese,” the statement from the President’s Office noted.
Only recently, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo underscored the importance of having a strong local content policy, noting that the country’s principal offshore operator, ExxonMobil must play a greater role in developing local capacity.
Jagdeo had said that the PPP/C Government intends to address the issues of local content frontally and will take all the necessary steps to ensure that Guyanese benefit and are included in the development of the oil and gas sector.

Bios
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. He is the recipient of several awards and scholarships including the Fulbright Scholarship to pursue Doctoral studies. Nokta has accumulated over 20 years’ experience working in the areas of environmental assessment and management, conservation, tourism development, and climate change.
Nokta has also served as an Adviser to the President and as Head of the Office of Climate Change where he coordinated Guyana’s response to climate change, the development and implementation of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and REDD+ Partnership with the Kingdom of Norway.
He was also involved in key conservation initiatives such as the establishing of Guyana’s National Protected Areas System, and has chaired several national boards and committees in the areas of tourism, conservation and climate change and green growth. Nokta has also held the position of President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) and currently serves as the Chief Representative for the Caribbean for the Delhi-based Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
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 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. Haynes is an adjunct Professor in Finance, and Accounting at the University of the District of Columbia and a Public lecturer in Leadership and Management. He is also the founder and President of Haynes Incorporated, a Washington-based international accounting and management consulting firm, and a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
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.
Ramnarine holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry a Master’s of Science in Petroleum Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Business (M.B.A.). 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. He has also advised clients in East, West and Southern Africa, the Middle East, Central and Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Duncan is the former Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC). (G11)

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