Ports cannot reach full potential without deeper harbours – Pres Ali

…calls for public-private investment to modernise Caribbean ports

President Dr Irfaan Ali has called for greater public-private investment to modernise ports across the Caribbean, pointing to ageing infrastructure, limited cargo-handling capacity and inadequate navigational depth as major constraints on regional shipping.
He made the remarks while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Caribbean Shipping Association’s 56th Annual General Meeting (AGM), Conference and Exhibition at the Guyana Marriott Hotel on Monday.
To illustrate the scale of investment, the Head of State drew on Guyana’s own experience, highlighting the country’s maritime challenges and ongoing infrastructure development as he addressed the gathering.
He pointed out that inadequate navigational depth remains a major challenge, noting that dredging the Demerara River is necessary to accommodate larger vessels. He said this has prompted the Government to advance plans for a deepwater port that would connect Guyana to northern Brazil and the wider region, adding that the Linden-Mabura Hill Road provides an indication of the scale of infrastructure development and investment required.
“The issue of port capacity, cargo-handling equipment, storage facilities, navigational depth…we know about this because we face these challenges. The largest ships can’t come in because we have to dredge the Demerara [River]. That is why we are now taking steps and moving forward on the development of a deepwater port, connecting that deepwater port to northern Brazil and the rest of the region. And if you have time to understand the scope of this project, I will tell you to take a drive down to Linden and look at the Linden-Mabura Hill Road.”
He explained that the road represents only one section of the infrastructure that must be built, adding that viewing the project would help people understand its scope and the scale of investment required.

The President said these challenges were holding back regional production.
“These differences affect not only the efficiency of individual ports, but also the performance of a regional shipping network as a whole. An Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) 2018 study of short-sea shipping in the Caribbean noted that, and I quote, ‘Most Caribbean ports are 50 years old or older, and these ports were built for a completely different commercial environment.’”

Built for different era
He emphasised that many ports were inefficient and had been built for a different era and commercial environment.
“We have to address this. A modern, efficient port cannot realise its full potential if the vessel it needs to accommodate cannot enter its harbour, if cargo cannot be moved efficiently beyond its terminal, and if connecting ports lack the capacity to handle the goods arriving from it.”
He noted that Guyana illustrated both the investment opportunities and challenges associated with maritime development. As the country’s economy expands and trade volumes increase, he said, its maritime infrastructure must keep pace with its development ambitions, adding that major dredging works would be required to improve access to the Demerara River.

“We must ensure that our maritime infrastructure keeps pace with our development ambition. Major dredging works will be required to improve access to the Demerara River. And those who have been doing business here for a long enough time will see how the Demerara River is expanding in terms of industry, services, port facilities and the connectivity that is required way down the Demerara River, on both sides of the river now.”

Deepwater port critical
Meanwhile, in a subsequent interview with the media, the Head of State described the proposed deepwater port as a critical component of Guyana’s development strategy.
“The deepwater port is critical for the building out of our economy, for the diversification of our economy, for our own competitiveness. As the country continues to grow and expand and continues to build out the infrastructure for the full diversification, this port is extremely critical.”
According to him, work is ongoing to complete the feasibility studies, including preliminary assessments of potential sites, before moving on to the full design phase. He added that the initial studies would help prepare the project for investment, noting that discussions with potential investors were already underway.
“We have already had discussions with … Qatari investment, who are all interested in coming together and being investment partners in this major [project], which is going to be one of our most transformative infrastructures.”
When asked how the additional studies would proceed without Chevron’s support, President Ali said the Government would have to work with development partners to ensure their completion.
“This is a study that has to be done as a Government and as a people. With all the development partners, we have to get the study done. US EXIM (United States Export-Import Bank) is also very keen on supporting the study because by December, when the feasibility is completed in all its dimensions, then we’ll be having a meeting with all of the potential investors, especially the large ones, to move this forward.”
The Caribbean Shipping Association’s 56th AGM, Conference and Exhibition takes place from October 25 to 28, 2026, at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Georgetown. The conference brings shipping companies, port operators, logistics professionals, public agencies and other maritime-sector participants to Guyana for several days of meetings, conference sessions and exhibition activity.
The Caribbean Shipping Association hosts the annual meeting and conference as a regional maritime gathering. The 2026 programme connects the association’s formal AGM with a conference and exhibition focused on the Caribbean shipping community. Georgetown’s waterfront setting places the meeting near the city’s port, logistics and commercial activity. The event is scheduled for October 25 through October 28, with registration information published for the Guyana programme.