The Ministry of Communities has funding available to support three proposals at a cost of $900,000 and is willing to provide a limited amount of funding to support academic research and development.
This was disclosed by Mr. Darren Shako who recently engaged students of the of the Faculty of Earth, Environment and Sciences (FEES) of the University of Guyana to highlight the career opportunities in Solid Waste Management particularly with the emergence of the oil and gas sector.
Mr. Darren Shako.
Shako is the Pilot Coordinator of the Guyana Waste Water Revolving Fund (GWRF).
He disclosed there are choices in the professional, technical and operational aspects of sanitation management that would require various skills set including innovation, consultancy, academia and engineering.
The engagement with the UG students is one that was spearheaded by the Ministry of Communities through its Sanitation Management Unit.
During his deliberations, Shako listed examples of treatment plant designs both in solid waste and wastewater, contracting landfill design, waste characterisation and waste water management consultancies.
Shako mentioned too that Guyana will soon require hazardous waste management operatives to satisfy the demands of the imminent oil and gas sector.
He agreed that most corporations and companies require persons with experience and skills set which can pose a challenge to students and university graduates, looking to jump-start careers in the sanitation field.
The Coordinator outlined too that waste management jobs in Guyana are non-traditional and the sector is often regarded as insignificant or non-productive.
Shako also bemoaned the lack of relevant or sufficient research that meets the existing needs of the sector and its changing dynamics.
UG Students hear about the possible oil and gas oriented careers.
Despite these challenges, there are many opportunities for careers in the sector including the need for solid waste management specialists, environmental consultants, designers, supervisors, facilitators, landfill specialists, solidwaste profilers, wastewater specialists, water and sanitation and hazardous waste management specialists.
According to Shako, waste is not garbage but a multi-million dollar business just waiting for good management.
He remarked that the field has current demands including innovative solutions to solve existing waste management problems and critical research to inform key policy decisions since few decisions are based on empirical data.
He noted that the main role of the GWRF is to provide policy direction to the sector on waste management in Guyana, facilitate projects in waste management and provide support to local government efforts in waste management in communities.