President Irfaan Ali yesterday again placed a deepwater port at the centre of his government’s plans to expand trade with the Caribbean and Latin America, saying Guyana must link its roads, river ports and coastal facilities to a major shipping hub to reach markets beyond its borders.
Speaking at the opening of GuyExpo 2026 at the Sophia Exhibition Centre, Ali said the proposed port would be supported by investment in Georgetown’s waterfront and by smaller ports. He identified Parika as a transshipment point and said port development at Port Kaituma, Bartica, Supenaam and in the Essequibo Islands would form part of the wider network.
The government has emphasized a deepwater port for many years but it is yet to materialize and various potential investors have examined the feasibility of the project.
Ali described road links from the Bartica area through Sand Hills and Timehri to Linden and the road to Lethem. He also outlined coastal connections through West Berbice, the East Coast and Georgetown, across the Demerara River and on to Parika. He said the network would position Guyana to serve markets in neighbouring South American countries, the Caribbean and the United States.
“Our market is not our population,” Ali said. He recalled that his proposal five years ago to make Spanish Guyana’s second language had drawn ridicule on social media. He raised it again as he argued that the country’s long-term development plans had to take account of its neighbours and the markets around it.
Ali said he had welcomed an investment group earlier on Thursday after first meeting its representatives in St Lucia several months ago. He said the group was looking at opportunities outside oil and gas, including in agriculture, infrastructure, housing, tourism and logistics.
He said the value of such investment should be judged by how much it broadens Guyana’s economic base and helps the country withstand global shocks. He said the government was pursuing policies that would give investors a clear understanding of the opportunities available and the incentives attached to them.
Ali cited the International Monetary Fund’s 2026 Article IV assessment in defending the government’s economic strategy. He said the IMF had recognised Guyana’s emphasis on diversification, resilience and sustainability and had found that investment in infrastructure and people was supporting growth outside the oil sector.
The President also defended the use of petroleum revenues for national development. He said the IMF had recognised that the Natural Resource Fund helped Guyana maintain fiscal and external buffers while keeping its debt-to-GDP ratio among the lowest in the Western Hemisphere. He said the assessment also pointed to gains in health and education.
Citing the assessment, Ali asserted that employment had risen by nearly 60 per cent between 2020 and 2025, while unemployment had fallen from 12.5 per cent to 6.2 per cent. He also pointed to an 11.5 per cent increase in private-sector credit and said borrowing extended across agriculture, construction, tourism, logistics, oil and gas, health and education.
Ali said education, retraining and skills development were needed to prepare workers for changes in the labour market. He described the Guyana Development Bank as part of a wider effort to give people more ways to earn through entrepreneurship, investment and the development of small and medium-sized businesses.
“The quality of life enhances your productivity. The quality of your environment enhances your productivity. The quality of your family life enhances your productivity,” Ali said.
He cited Georgetown’s avenues as an example, saying the work had improved safety for those who use them and given residents a greater sense of pride in their communities. He said access to healthcare, parks and other public spaces also had a bearing on how productive people could be.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Susan Rodrigues said at the opening that a record 350 booths had been allocated for the four-day exhibition. The programme includes GuyExpoBusiness, an initiative to connect buyers and suppliers, as well as the return of the Tourism Village, product launches and cultural performances.
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