The Ministry of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship’s Division of Energy is currently working on a local content plan to develop the technical and vocational skills of Barbadians.
The plan will inform businesses and enterprises about opportunities available to service the offshore oil and gas and renewable energy sectors.
Geologist and Director of the Natural Resources Department, Jamar White, made the disclosure during a live telephone interview on the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation’s 94.7 F.M. with host Teshia Hinds. The call-in is the third in the Ministry of Energy’s radio series.
He noted that there were several Barbadians who are currently skilled in areas such as catering; accommodation; communication; shipping; public relations; marketing and engineering, and there was a greater push by the Ministry to inform the public about the skills required to work in the energy sector.
“The Ministry is seeking to inform and educate the public to let them know about the opportunities that are out there for training and education, as well as the development of businesses and enterprises so that Barbadian companies can get some of the contracts; get some of the work and spread the wealth around,” Mr. White stated.
He also shared that nine Barbadian students – six Marine Mammal observers and three Geoscience interns, had been trained and hired by the global resource company BHP.
Mr. White said of the nine, two mammal observers and one geoscience intern had been working on the vessel with BHP officials as they conducted the soon-to-be concluded 3D seismic survey across a 618 square mile area offshore Barbados.
The geologist said the interns had received international safety certification, which qualified them to work anywhere in the world and gave a brief outline of some of their duties.
“On the vessel, the marine mammal observers used binoculars and other equipment to detect the presence of whales, dolphins and turtles to ensure that there was no danger to their habitat from the vessel during the seismic survey. The geoscience interns helped to deploy the seismic streamers and assisted with the interpretation of the raw seismic data,” he stated.
His colleague, Economist Alton Best, urged interested Barbadians to visit the Ministry’s website at www.energy.gov.bb, www.smartenergybarbados.com, or subscribe and follow on their Instagram, Facebook and Twitter social media pages @energybarbados and @smartenergybarbados.