Deliberate action to close loopholes in Guyana’s local content framework has significantly reduced the practice of “rent-a-citizen” arrangements, paving the way for broader and more meaningful participation by Guyanese workers and businesses in the oil and gas sector.

Speaking at the handover ceremony for the Letters of Approval of Annual Local Content Plans at Duke Lodge in Guyana on Wednesday, Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat said the government moved aggressively during the early years of implementation to protect the integrity of local content policies and ensure Guyanese benefit directly from the country’s petroleum development.

The minister said authorities encountered cases where individuals used their Guyanese status to create the appearance of local ownership while having limited actual involvement in businesses operating under local content provisions.