Two companies operating in Guyana’s industrial safety and services sector have been placed into voluntary liquidation, according to notices published in Saturday’s Official Gazette.

They are HHSL Safety Systems (Guyana) Inc and Barrier Industrial Services (Guyana) Inc.

According to the Gazette, shareholders of HHSL Safety Systems passed a special resolution on September 11 for the company to be wound up voluntarily.

Herman Anthony Vieira of Victoria Gardens, Diego Martin, Trinidad and Tobago, was appointed liquidator. The notice said Vieira would serve without remuneration but would be reimbursed from the company’s assets for expenses properly incurred during the winding-up process.

No reason was given for the decision and the notice did not disclose the value of the company’s assets or liabilities, whether it has outstanding contracts or how many employees may be affected.

HHSL Safety Systems provided safety and emergency-response training, equipment inspections, drone inspections and other services associated with the industrial and oil-and-gas sectors.

The company is listed on the Local Content Secretariat’s online directory with a Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown address. The directory identifies its registration status as “pending” and lists an expiration date of November 4, 2025. 

Stabroek News reported in July 2024 that the company had conducted fall-protection and confined-space safety training for officers of the Ministry of Labour. 

The Trinidad-based Hummingbird Group identifies HHSL’s Guyana operation as providing safety and emergency-response training, manpower, equipment sales and consultancy services. Its wider operations are focused on the oil-and-gas industry. 

Meanwhile, Barrier Industrial Services (Guyana) Inc was placed into voluntary liquidation with effect from September 1.

The Gazette said the decision was taken at an extraordinary general meeting held on August 31 at Lot 62 Hadfield and Cross streets, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown.

Chartered accountant Harry Narine of PKF, Barcellos, Narine & Co was appointed liquidator.

As with HHSL, the notice did not say why the Guyana company was being wound up or whether employees, creditors or contracts would be affected.

The liquidation notices relate only to the Guyana-incorporated companies. A company bearing the Barrier Industrial Services name remains registered as active in the United Kingdom. However, the Gazette does not state the corporate relationship, if any, between that company and the Guyana operation. 

A voluntary liquidation does not, by itself, mean that a company is insolvent. In a members’ voluntary liquidation, shareholders generally decide to close the company and appoint a liquidator to settle its affairs, pay liabilities and distribute any remaining assets.