More Guyanese youth to be immersed in natural resources sector through apprenticeship programme

Another cohort of young Guyanese will be immersed in the country's natural resources sector through a continuing apprenticeship programme.

The Youth in Natural Resources Apprenticeship Programme is an annual initiative that offers hands-on learning experiences in the sector.

The 2026 edition of the programme was launched on Friday. In a release, the Ministry of Natural Resources said subject Minister Vickram Bharrat reiterated the importance of the natural resources for the economy of Guyana as a major revenue earner. He also discussed the importance of the ministry in its management of the country's extractive industries.

Mining, forestry, oil and gas, local content, the Natural Resource Fund and local content initiatives are all directly or indirectly related to Guyana's natural resources sector. And Minister Bharrat reportedly encouraged the youth to prepare themselves for opportunities in each of these fields.

On its website, the Ministry of Natural Resources says participants will travel through Guyana’s dense rainforest to mining camps in Regions Two and Seven seeing for themselves how precious and semi-precious minerals are extracted from the earth. They will also interact with mentors and professionals who will share their knowledge and experiences of working in extractive industries including in the oil and gas sector.

Furthermore, youth participants will be able to establish corporate links through networking with the businesses in the sector and be enrolled a Youth Ambassadors for the Natural Resources.