Govt committed to maritime overhaul to anchor Guyana as regional shipping powerhouse – Ali

The Government of Guyana has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming the country’s maritime economy through strategic investments in shipping and port infrastructure. As part of its modernisation drive, major developments are underway to expand seaport capacity, improve logistics efficiency, and strengthen Guyana’s positioning as a regional trade and shipping hub.
According to President Irfaan Ali, building a modern, competitive maritime economy calls for deepening harbours, upgrading port infrastructure, and establishing an independent National Port Authority.
Speaking at the Shipping Association of Guyana’s Networking and Business Mixer, the Head of State laid bare the scale of Guyana’s shipping challenges – and the bold vision to fix them.

At the top of the list, however, is the urgent need to deepen Guyana’s harbours, especially the Demerara River, to accommodate larger, modern vessels, given that without deeper channels, the country is locked out of the freight economies of scale driving global logistics.
“How do we create an enabling environment that is incentivised by the system to have the reinvestment in ports? And that is something we are looking at very closely. So, as you know, larger vessels mean low freight costs and higher volumes. But without deeper ports and channels, these ships cannot dock at our ports. This puts us at a major disadvantage. And that disadvantage translates to higher costs throughout the supply and logistics chains. The second major issue is the efficiency of our port operations. We cannot talk about becoming a competitive nation without addressing inefficiencies in our ports. Turnaround times must be shortened, systems must be digitised, and bureaucracy, including customs processing, must give way to smooth, timely processing and a competitive business environment,” President Ali explained.
Additionally, to match the physical upgrades with institutional reform, the administration is draughting a Modern Port Act. This law will introduce stronger safety standards, transparent regulations, and modern governance structures.
Ali disclosed that at its core is the establishment of an independent port authority.
President Ali stated that the focus should not be on how individual companies progress, as they lack the scale and capacity to pursue major opportunities on their own. He stressed the need for a shift in strategy, noting that legislation and regulations are being developed to align port operations with the standards of a modern maritime economy. He added that this is only the start, and over the next five years, his administration will significantly ramp up investment in port infrastructure. As the economy continues to expand, he said, there will be increased demand for imports and exports, placing greater pressure on the current port facilities.
“We are moving forward with plans to deepen the Demerara Harbour,” he stated. He emphasised that if Guyana is to achieve its goal of becoming the region’s energy capital and hub, facilitating the flow of natural gas by-products and refined fuels to markets such as northern Brazil and the wider Caribbean – then a significant increase in maritime traffic is expected.
This initiative, Ali emphasised, supports Guyana’s broader economic diversification agenda, with a strong emphasis on enhancing the blue economy, creating new employment opportunities, and attracting foreign investment. In fact, the infrastructure upgrades will not only improve trade flow and reduce bottlenecks but also enable Guyana to meet international shipping standards, making it more competitive globally.