For the first time, all Base Manager positions at Guyana Shore Base Inc. (GYSBI) are held by Guyanese, including the company’s first female Base Manager, as local representation in management climbs to 80 per cent.
Six Guyanese employees who started their careers at different levels of Guyana Shore Base Inc. (GYSBI) have risen through the ranks to take charge of its base operations, marking a significant shift towards local leadership in the country's oil and gas support industry.
The appointments mean that, for the first time, all Base Manager positions at the country's largest shore base and logistics hub serving the oil and gas sector are held by Guyanese nationals.
Among those appointed is Nkosi Sandy, who has made history as GYSBI's first female Base Manager.
The six managers are Rondell Wade and Rohit Gulchand, who have been appointed Senior Base Managers, alongside Michael Lambert, Nkosi Sandy, Aveledo Lindie and Marvin McLennon, who will serve as Annex Base Managers.
Their appointments are particularly significant given that these positions were previously held by expatriates. All six employees progressed through the company's ranks, gaining experience in different operational areas before taking on their new leadership responsibilities.
Their career journeys reflect the opportunities for advancement within a sector that has created new employment pathways for Guyanese since the start of offshore oil production.
Sandy, 34, joined GYSBI in December 2018 as a Banksman, having previously worked as a Draftswoman at the Brass Aluminium and Cast-Iron Foundry. She went on to become the first woman to occupy the positions of Foreman, Logistics Coordinator and Base Coordinator within the company before her latest appointment.
Wade, 33, joined the company in February 2018 as a Warehouse Supervisor after previously working at RUSAL. He subsequently advanced through the positions of Logistics Coordinator and Base Coordinator before becoming a Senior Base Manager.
Gulchand, 41, entered GYSBI in June 2018 as a Banksman. Having previously worked with the Guyana Sugar Corporation as a Bookkeeper and Senior Shipping Clerk, he progressed through roles as Foreman, Logistics Coordinator and Base Coordinator before his appointment as Senior Base Manager.
Lambert, 30, joined in June 2019 as a Banksman after completing high school. He later advanced through the positions of Foreman, Logistics Coordinator and Base Coordinator.
Lindie, 49, started at GYSBI in July 2017 as a Driver, bringing experience from the gold mining industry. He subsequently became a Forklift Operator and Warehouse Supervisor before his appointment.
McLennon, 34, joined in October 2020 as a Banksman after previously serving in the Ministry of Natural Resources' Corps of Wardens. His career progression included positions as QHSSE Field Advisor, QHSSE Supervisor and QHSSE Team Lead. He later served as G-City Base Manager before moving into his current Annex Base Manager position.
GYSBI Chief Executive Officer Oliver Kassam said the appointments demonstrate the company's ability to develop leadership expertise from within its workforce.
He noted that the six employees had gained an understanding of the company's operations by working at different levels and were now expected to apply that experience in managing teams and preparing other Guyanese for leadership roles.
“These employees understand our operations because they have helped build them. They have experienced the demands of the business at different levels and understand that effective leadership requires sound judgement, accountability and an uncompromising commitment to safety. Their task now is to apply that experience in leading their teams and preparing the next generation of Guyanese talent,” Kassam said.
Local representation in management grows
The six appointments form part of a wider increase in Guyanese participation across GYSBI's workforce and management structure.
The company reported that the number of Guyanese in management positions increased from eight at the end of 2020 to 61 by September 26, 2026. This pushed local representation in management from 32 per cent to approximately 80 per cent.
Its overall Guyanese workforce also expanded by approximately 85 per cent over the same period, growing from 342 employees to nearly 650.
Guyanese now account for 96 per cent of GYSBI's workforce, compared with just over 90 per cent at the end of 2020.
The latest appointments add to the growing number of Guyanese taking on supervisory and senior management responsibilities in the country's expanding oil and gas industry.
Beyond the numbers, the six employees' progression from entry-level and operational positions to managing major base operations offers a picture of how local workers are moving into positions of greater responsibility within the sector.
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