Modernising the Bank of Guyana: promise, practice, and regional lessons

Dear Editor,
President Dr Irfaan Ali’s recent announcement to modernise the Bank of Guyana signals a positive and welltimed recognition that economic transformation must be supported by an equally modern institutional and monetary framework. His call for a “datadriven, forwardlooking” central bank capable of managing liquidity, inflation, and financial inclusion reflects a sound appreciation of the challenges confronting a rapidly expanding resourcebased economy.
At the conceptual level, the Government’s plans align with the evolution of central banking across the Caribbean. The Central Banks of Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago have each undertaken reforms to enhance data quality, transparency, and policy credibility. Jamaica’s adoption of inflationtargeting, Barbados’s shift toward greater monetary autonomy, and Trinidad’s modernisation of its payments and supervisory systems all demonstrate the merits – and difficulties – of evidencebased economic governance.
For Guyana, where fiscal expansion, exchangerate pressure, and high import dependence interact with oildriven growth, upgrading monetary governance is both prudent and necessary. The Bank’s modernisation could strengthen confidence, support investment, and protect purchasing power. Yet, as regional experience shows, success depends not on rhetoric but on disciplined execution and institutional coherence.
Effective monetary policy cannot function in isolation. Guyana has long suffered weak policy coordination – between the fiscal, investment, and trade authorities – resulting in liquidity surpluses, foreignexchange tightness, and uneven development outcomes. The modernisation of the Bank of Guyana must therefore be anchored in stronger fiscal discipline, data reliability, and transparent communication with markets.
Humanresource capacity is also central. Reforms in Jamaica and Barbados were enabled by investment in econometric and supervisory training as well as close partnership with international institutions. If the Bank of Guyana is to manage a policy rate or openmarket operations credibly, it will require similar technical depth and professional independence.
President Ali’s emphasis on financial inclusion and the proposal for a junior stock exchange are wellconceived measures to broaden participation in national growth. However, as shown by Jamaica’s microfinance and Trinidad’s SME experiences, financial inclusion must be accompanied by robust regulation, investor education, and effective antimoneylaundering oversight. Without these safeguards, liberalisation may deepen inequality rather than reduce it.
Guyana’s structural dualities – between formal and informal sectors, and between coastland and hinterland – further complicate equitable access to finance. Additionally, persistent concerns about procurement transparency, foreigncurrency leakages, and the politicisation of appointments undermine trust in institutions. The success of any modernisation effort will thus depend on visible commitment to good governance and meritbased management.
In fairness, the Government’s record since 2020 shows important progress: rapid growth in bank account ownership, improved digital banking services, and nascent steps toward better foreignexchange management. These achievements demonstrate intent and potential. Yet, modernisation must extend beyond technology to include clear policy rules, accountability structures, and predictable implementation.
There are useful regional lessons. Jamaica’s clear inflationtargeting communication, Barbados’s careful sequencing of reform, and Trinidad’s pragmatic approach to macroprudential supervision underscore that modernisation is a process – not an event. For Guyana, success will require sustained investment in people, data, and coordination rather than oneoff announcements.
Ultimately, the Government’s vision for a modernised Bank of Guyana represents a commendable step in the right direction. Its success will rest on governance coherence, transparency, and sustained institutional discipline. If achieved, Guyana could evolve not only as an oilrich economy but also as a regional model for credible economic management and inclusive financial development.

Yours faithfully,
Fernando Balkaran
Former Lecturer, UWI Cave Hill Campus, Barbados, & UG Turkeyen Campus, Guyana