Newrest Guyana (NGY), a leading provider of catering and housekeeping services in the country’s oil and gas sector, continues to steadily increase its Guyanese workforce and expand opportunities for locals to play crucial roles offshore.
The company entered the industry in Guyana with the arrival of the Liza Destiny Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel in 2019, supporting SBM Offshore’s mobilization phase from Singapore to Guyana with six Guyanese employees. This was followed by support with 11 employees on the Prosperity FPSO.
The ONE GUYANA FPSO has been in its mobilization phase at SBM Offshore’s shipyard in Singapore with 15 NGY employees.
Two Guyanese team members, Nevon Arno, and Bevon Craig, were tasked with undertaking essential responsibilities aboard the vessel.
From Cook to Camp Boss
Nevon Arno joined Newrest five years ago as a cook. Today, she is set to take on the role of Camp Boss on the ONE GUYANA FPSO. Reflecting on her career path, Arno credits her entry into the industry to a recruitment drive by the Carnegie School of Home Economics, where she was trained in catering.
“It was a spur-of-the-moment decision,” Arno shared. “But it’s been a privilege to be one of the first Guyanese experiencing this industry.”
Her journey has been marked by challenges, from time away from family to adjusting to the demanding offshore environment. Yet, she persevered, rising from Head Chef to Assistant Camp Boss on the Liza Unity and eventually Camp Boss on the Liza Destiny.
“The support I’ve received from mentors with years of experience in the industry has been invaluable,” she said. “They’ve helped me build the skills and confidence needed to manage teams of up to 165 people onboard.”
Arno is also proud to be a woman excelling in a traditionally male-dominated sector. “You sometimes have to work twice as hard, but staying focused on your goals makes all the difference,” she said. Her advice to others: “Just do it. The experience is worth it.”
Bevon Craig’s Offshore Journey Begins
For Bevon Craig, the opportunity to join the ONE GUYANA FPSO is a significant milestone. A former storekeeper at Newrest Guyana, Craig is transitioning to an offshore role as a Housekeeper. His excitement is palpable as he prepares for his first time offshore.
“I’ve always wanted to work in oil and gas,” Craig explained. “It’s a chance to explore new opportunities and elevate myself.”
Craig acknowledges the personal sacrifices, such as being away from family during the holidays, but he views the experience as a step toward greater responsibilities. “I want to grow into a supervisory role or even become an Assistant Camp Boss,” he said, drawing inspiration from his late grandmother, a chef whose passion for cooking influenced his career aspirations.
His advice to young Guyanese: “Stay focused and take the chance. It’s a path that requires maturity and determination, but it’s incredibly rewarding.”
Newrest’s Investment in Training
Kevin Hoffert, Director of Operations for Newrest Guyana, highlighted the company’s strategic focus on training as a foundation for success.
“Since 2019, we’ve worked with institutions like Carnegie to certify our kitchen staff while also developing internal training programs tailored to the specific needs of the oil and gas sector,” Hoffert explained.
Newrest employs approximately 250 people in Guyana, with only a dozen expatriates. Most of its operational team members on three FPSOs and two drilling rigs are Guyanese. For the ONE GUYANA FPSO alone, Newrest earmarked five Guyanese for mobilization in Singapore and eight for the vessel’s journey home.
“Our goal is to give our employees opportunities to grow into higher positions,” Hoffert said. “By the second quarter of 2025, we plan to train about 40 more Guyanese as part of the ONE GUYANA crew.”
For team members like Arno and Craig, these are more than career advancement opportunities; they are chances to contribute to Guyana’s increasing role in the global energy sector.
Hoffert noted that NGY started with 35 employees and has grown to a current headcount of over 240. Additionally, NGY operations have created indirect employment for over 500 people providing support services.
Newrest Guyana is registered with the Local Content Secretariat through a Guyanese consortium of local partners, namely Guyanese Achieving Togetherness Enterprise.
