‘If you don’t have real intelligence, you’re incapable of using AI’ – Min. Hamilton

The Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department, on Monday, April 28, 2025, hosted a groundbreaking symposium titled “Revolutionizing Health and Safety: The Role of AI and Digitalisation at Work”.

This event is one of several activities organized by the OSH Department to promote awareness of safety and health practices both at work and at home in observance of OSH Month. It also aligns with the celebration of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, being observed today.

The event, held at the Regency Suites Hotel, brought together close to 100 participants from private and public sector agencies, all with a shared commitment to modernising workplace safety standards in Guyana.

The symposium will feature presentations and panels exploring the practical applications of AI and digital technologies in improving occupational safety and health.

Participants engaged in dynamic discussions around innovative strategies for risk management, workplace surveillance, predictive analytics, and the development of smarter, safer work environments.

Minister of Labour, the Honourable Joseph Hamilton, delivered the keynote address, setting the tone for the day’s discussions with a powerful and thought-provoking message. “𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐞,” the Minister began, “𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨, 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐮𝐦.”

Minister Hamilton emphasised that real intelligence (RI) must precede the successful use of artificial intelligence (AI) in workplaces. “𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐈,” he stated, warning that technology alone cannot solve organisational challenges if foundational human competencies are lacking.

Using vivid examples, the Minister highlighted real-world experiences where assumptions about digital literacy led to poor outcomes. He referenced the Board of Industrial Training’s partnership with Coursera, noting that despite widespread access to smartphones, many participants struggled with basic digital engagement. “𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲, 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞 — 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰,” he said.

Minister Hamilton also challenged business leaders and managers to move away from assumptions about employee capability based on academic qualifications alone. “𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲,” he asserted, calling for more deliberate investment in training and retraining to strengthen the workforce.

Turning to the broader implications for health and safety, Minister Hamilton warned that without an attitude transformation in Guyana’s workplaces, no amount of digitalization or AI could prevent occupational hazards. “𝐖𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫,” he remarked. “𝐈𝐟 𝐰𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬.”

Also present at the opening ceremony of the symposium were Ms. Gillian Burton-Persaud, Advisor to the Minister; Ms. Gweneth King, OSH Consultant; Mr. Roydon Croal; and Ms. Maxean Bess, Assistant Chief OSH Officers, along with other distinguished guests.

In attendance were representatives from the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Massy Guyana, the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), SEACOR Marine, Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), the Linden Mayor and Town Council, MODEC, Guyana National Shipping Corporation Limited (GNSCL), ChampionX, Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Banks DIH Limited, Sterling Products Limited, Farfan and Mendes Limited, Pritpaul Singh Incorporated, Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Guyana Logistics and Support Services Incorporated, among others.

The Ministry of Labour reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a culture of safety, innovation, and continuous learning as Guyana transitions into a more technology-driven economy.