Harvey Gulf International Marine officially launched its local subsidiary, Guyana Offshore Vessels Services Inc., on Wednesday and Shane Guidry, Chief Executive Officer of the parent company, committed to employing as many Guyanese as possible.
Speaking to a gathering in front of the Fort and Barrack streets offices of the company, Guidry explained that when the company first came to Guyana’s shores, it didn’t try to find work. “We’re not a company that wants to rob, pillage and steal… it’s not who we are. We came down here with the thought process of opening an office, which is what we did. We’ve hired employees without knowing if and when we would ever get work,” Guidry said.
He explained that a week after leaving Guyana, he received numerous phone calls about bids for work, due to reports in the media about the company’s intention. “We are going to continue to grow in this region, hopefully more so in Guyana. We are hiring as many Guyanese people as we can. We would love to see the day where its 100% Guyanese, where we could possibly reflag boats,” Guidry noted, while emphasising that the company is “here to stay.”
He added that it has set up a profit sharing plan for its employees so that all the revenues earned would not be taken out of the country and he emphasised the company’s commitment to purchase everything locally. Also speaking at the event was head of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Zulfikar Ally, who said that such occasions send positive signals about the growth of business in Guyana, the private sector and in a sector that is expected to usher Guyana into the league of developed nations.
Ally noted that the company’s presence in the country will not only create jobs, but will also lift industry standards in the oil and marine sectors, improve safety standards and safety culture, and help to streamline important aspects of health and safety at the national policy level through collaboration with the private sector and national authorities.
“It would be remiss of me if I don’t encourage you to ensure that as much as possible you look to build joint ventures and collaborations with the local private sector businesses and organisations. Guyana is at a critical juncture where it is important for local industries to be provided with the opportunities to build upon what they already have,” he said, while noting that it is incumbent on all foreign companies working in Guyana to ensure that local expertise, products and services are utilised in a safe, respectful and lawful way.
Petroleum Geologist from the Department of Energy Marissa Foster also gave brief remarks in the stead of Head of the Department Mark Bynoe. Foster said that the establishment of local offices for international companies shows the bullish interest in investment in the country, which also speaks to the level of confidence the international market has in Guyana and the potential growth of the petroleum sector.
With the new entry of investors, she explained, the department is hoping to see more partnerships with local companies that will help to build knowledge and improve technology not only across the country but across sectors.
She added that the partnership must see the active involvement and participation of local staff in operations and understanding every activity and procedure. And this, she said, is what encapsulates the government’s vision for local content. Harvey Gulf currently owns and operates Fast Supply and Utility Vessels, Offshore Supply Vessels and Multi-purpose Vessels that specialise in deep-water and ultra-deep-water operations.
The company’s mission is to provide its “customers excellent marine service and value while causing no harm to people, assets, or the environment and maintaining a culture of professionalism and mutual respect.”
According to a company’s profile, “Harvey Gulf achieves superior performance through designing and equipping its vessels to meet their customers’ current and anticipated needs for their deep-water operations. This results in providing customers with the largest cargo capacities for offshore supply services and greatest capability and flexibility for offshore construction services. Harvey Gulf also designs and equips some of its offshore supply vessels for dual operation as dive/construction and mooring line support vessels, affording greater flexibility to its customers.”
