Guyana making progress on development goals – Ashni Singh tells UN

…stresses need for int’l community to make financing available

Guyana on Monday conducted its Voluntary National Review (VNR) of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a process which saw Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh updating the United Nations on the progress Guyana is making towards bettering the lives of Guyanese.

During the presentation of the VNR, which was done at the UN’s High Level Political Forum on sustainable development, the Finance Minister committed that in addition to the way Guyana has woven national development into successive budgets, more work will be done to improve essential infrastructure and public services.
“However, the scale of investments needed is costly, especially given Guyana’s geography and the population distribution which contributes to the complexity and cost of reaching more remote communities,” Dr Singh said.
“Thus, these actions will be complemented by Government’s deliberate advocacy for increased volumes of affordable financing to fund the critical initiatives essential to meeting Agenda 2030. Recent geopolitical shocks have reminded us that food security and energy and climate security are core to ensuring national, regional and even global resilience.”
The Finance Minister used the occasion to push for affordable financing for Guyana, noting that this means a redoubled global commitment. Notwithstanding these financial constraints, however, he made it clear that Guyana has made progress on the SDGs.
According to Dr Singh, the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to disrupting the progress that countries, including Guyana, were making towards achieving their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Notwithstanding, Guyana persevered and still made considerable progress towards the achievement of the goals. Our video presentation showcased some of the gains Guyana has made under Goals Six, Seven, Nine, 11 and 17,” he said.
“Overall, we’ve improved data collection within these goals for tracking progress and the achievements reflected are as a result of deliberate policy and programme intervention that are focused on accelerating development to ensure gains are made for all Guyanese.”
According to Singh, the Government has invested in infrastructure to deliver water to over 30,000 residents in the hinterland. As such, the proportion of the hinterland with access to safe water has gone from 33.8 per cent in 2019 to 75 per cent as of the end of 2022.
“Additionally, in order to ensure the affordability to the most vulnerable, we have removed the water tariff from the first 10 cubic meters of water per month consumed by 28,000 senior citizens. Removed value added tax on water charges and reduced water tariffs across the board, thereby benefitting over 175,000 customers.”
“Under Goal Seven, affordable and clean energy, significant investments in solar farms and hydropower have advanced. In addition, work has started on 300 MW of new power generation capability, harnessing Guyana’s newfound gas resources.”
He informed the UN that this will allow for a 50 per cent reduction in electricity costs to the population by 2025. The Minister further told the forum of investments in the 165-MW Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, as well as a new solar home energy programme to reach the remotest areas and, in particular, energy poor communities. This latter project, according to Dr Singh, will benefit over 245 communities or 30,000 households in Guyana’s hinterland.
“In line with Goal Nine, industry, innovation and infrastructure, heightened focus is being placed on ramping up investments in infrastructure to address the large infrastructure gap, with the aim of improving connectivity for our citizens across the country,” Singh said.
“New and expanded transport networks including new highways, bridges and ocean-going vessels have already increased capacity for movement of people and cargo. Additionally, business incubators and business outsourcing have seen greater employment of women, over recent years.”
When it comes to Goal 11, which deals with sustainable cities and communities, Dr Singh spoke of the Government’s accelerated drive to distribute 50,000 house lots by 2025. He said that within recent years, over 24,000 house lots have been distributed, primarily to low- and middle-income households.
“In addition, a young professionals housing programme has increased access to housing solutions for Guyana’s youth. And notably in 2022, 45 per cent of all house lot allocations were to female headed households, up from 42 per cent in 2021. We’ve also implemented several measures to reduce the cost of homeownership, especially for first-time homeowners,” the Finance Minister added.
Only last year December, the Government of Guyana (GOG) and the United Nations (UN) System hosted a Joint National Steering Committee (JNSC) meeting as part of an ongoing collaboration to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Guyana. (G3)