25/04/2026
Minister of Labour Tours GYSBI, Commends Strong Safety Culture and Local Workforce
Georgetown, Guyana – April 25, 2026 – Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Hon. Keoma Griffith, on Wednesday, visited and toured the facilities of Guyana Shore Base Inc. (GYSBI), where he commended the company for its robust safety standards, strong environmental stewardship, and commitment to local workforce development.
The visit formed part of activities marking the observance of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Month, recognised globally by the International Labour Organisation during April. The theme for this year’s observance is “Good Psychosocial Environments: A Pathway to Thriving Workers and Strong Organisations.”
The Minister received a comprehensive overview of the company’s operations from Chief Executive Officer Oliver Kassam, along with a detailed breakdown of GYSBI’s Quality, Health, Safety, Security and Environmental (QHSSE) policies, processes and systems presented by QHSSE Senior Manager Kurt Busuttil. He was also briefed on the company’s training programmes, including Human Performance and Safe Choice, and their associated performance metrics.
In his remarks to the Leadership Team following the presentations, Minister Keoma Griffith underscored the importance of prioritising worker safety amid Guyana’s rapid economic expansion, noting that such observances are not symbolic but rather, serve as an important national reminder that the protection of workers must remain a top priority.
The Minister also commended GYSBI’s strong safety performance, noting the company’s achievement of over 2,100 days, or more than 9 million man-hours, without a Lost Time Injury (LTI).
“This achievement is not merely commendable; it demonstrates what can be accomplished when leadership, workforce and safety culture move in unison. It reinforces the shared responsibility of government and industry to ensure that every worker returns home safely,” he added.
Minister Griffith further highlighted the company’s contribution to national development through its workforce composition, pointing out that approximately 95 per cent of its employees are Guyanese. “As Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, seeing a workforce that reflects 95 per cent local labour is extremely pleasing and commendable. This is something we can proudly highlight as a country,” he said.
In addition to safety and labour practices, he also used the opportunity to acknowledge GYSBI’s environmental initiatives, commenting that its emphasis on environmental protection aligns with Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).
GYSBI’s CEO, Oliver Kassam, thanked the Minister for his visit and used the opportunity to reaffirm GYSBI’s commitment to maintaining high standards in safety, environmental management, and workforce development, while continuing to support Guyana’s rapidly evolving energy sector.
GYSBI also donated to the Ministry to support part of its OSH Month activities.
The observance includes a National Symposium, an OSH Village on Main Street, and a national walk scheduled for Sunday, April 26, 2026.
