The Port Mourant, Berbice campus of the Guyana Technical Training College Inc. is set to transform the community into a “college town,” according to its Director, Professor Clement Sankat.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Starting Point Podcast, Sankat said the initiative will drive much-needed development in the ancient county of Berbice.
He said there is a strong demand for oil and gas professionals in Guyana, underscoring the need for technical training to support the rapidly growing industry—a move that is already underway.
Sankat noted that following an agreement between the Government of Guyana and Exxon to develop the institution, the project is being pursued with great passion, as he believes it will be a major game-changer for technical training.
“We are hoping that in this rural Guyana, we will develop a ‘College Town,’ and with that comes a lot of prosperity for the people of the community. I believe there is a relationship between what we call a town and the gown– which is the institution, and it is a symbiotic relationship,” Sankat related.
The first phase of the initiative will focus on the oil and gas sector, with an emphasis on health and safety, followed by nine months of skills development training at the Port Mourant campus. Students will be mentored by experienced instructors and expatriates.
According to Sankat, the campus will offer globally accredited oil and gas programmes that will allow graduates to work both locally and internationally.
“It’s not only Phase One–which is the oil and gas, but it’s also Phase Two- the Hospitality and Tourism Institute, and hopefully a Phase Three which is a broader skills training through the Port Mourant Training College. Hopefully, they will all be brought together under the administrative umbrella of the Guyana Technical Training College,” he noted.
Sankat said that once completed, the institute will accommodate about 700 students at the Port Mourant campus.
He added that the institution is also catering for students outside of Port Mourant, with the construction of a residence expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2026.
