Lives changed...

FROM PAGE 2A anything for us to do, but that wasn't regular. With this job, my wife can stay home and take care of our two children. I am happy about this; I feel really good," Daniel said.

Outside of the construction, Region Nine’s Cecilia Greene, who is a Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarship recipient, said there are many people who need the opportunity to access tertiary education. She said there are persons who are willing and qualified, but did not have the funds to pursue such studies. So, she encouraged others to take advantage of the flexible schedule of studying through GOAL, which was created by the government to make access to tertiary education more affordable.

Bernadette Hardy, a graduate of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s WIIN programme, said she was beyond grateful for the opportunity to achieve a cooking certificate, which has significantly improved her ability to expand her livelihood.

The entrepreneur encouraged persons, partic- ularly single mothers, to sign up for the programme, which opens doors to many opportunities to create a livelihood.

Amar Boodram, a GOAL scholarship recipient, summed it up when he said that the past three years of the Dr. Irfaan Ali-led government’s tenure have been productive and fruitful in every way. He referenced the increase in economic activities and the rapid infrastructural transformation that is underway; all of which are creating opportunities for jobs and a better life.

The Local Content Act outlines 40 sub-sectors that would legally require oil companies to procure goods and services from Guyanese businesses, as well as employ specific percentages of Guyanese in their day-to-day operations.

However, the private sector is already in discussion with the government to add as many as 35 more areas to the First Schedule of the Act, in addition to appealing for increases to the percentage of minimum local anticipated to produce around 300 megawatts (MW) of electricity and is expected to reduce energy costs for citizens of Guyana by 50 per cent.

The Prime Minister made those remarks during the signing ceremony of the Provision of Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Services contract, which will see the installation of transmission lines and substations for the integrated NGL Plant and 300 MW CCGT Power Plant at Wales,

According to the Prime Minister: “More than 60 per cent of the people of Guyana will benefit from this project; over 500,000 Guyanese will benefit from this project. This project will once and for all bring not only reliable and stable electricity, [but] with the other components [it] will bring power for over 500,000 Guyanese at a cost that is half what they’re paying now.”

Prime Minister Phillips, who holds responsibility for the country’s energy sector, further explained that the cost of electricity currently stands at an estimated $45 per kWh and will be significantly reduced to around $24 per kWh.