“We are going to leapfrog this country into unbelievable places” – President Ali

…announces robotics hospital, new airport expansion, launch of four Government apps during hotel inauguration

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday declared that Guyana is on the brink of an “unbelievable leap” in national development, announcing plans for the establishment of a robotics hospital by the end of 2026, the launch of four Government digital apps, and the potential expansion of Terminal Two at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA – all within the framework of what he calls a vision to transform Guyana into a globally competitive, technology-driven state. Speaking at the official opening of the SOMA Hotel & Restaurant at Houston, East Bank Demerara (EBD), President Ali told a captivated audience that there is “no slowing down” for Guyana as the country pushes forward with rapid modernisation and diversification.
“We are going to leapfrog this country into unbelievable places,” the Head of State asserted, describing Guyana’s development pathway as one that will be “outside of the box, imaginative, diversified, and forward-looking.” The President said that while oil has catalysed this new era, the country’s future lies in the deliberate building of a world-class healthcare system, a modern education network, a digital economy, and a food production hub that will position Guyana as a regional powerhouse. He outlined the Government’s commitment to creating a data-driven public service, free from bureaucratic delays and inefficiency. As part of this transformation, President Ali announced that by next year, Guyana will complete the establishment of a robotics-enabled hospital, integrating advanced telemedicine and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to connect local patients with global medical expertise. “We are not tinkering on the edges,” he said. “We are building hospitals that allow surgeons from Germany, India, or the United States (US) to perform surgery in Guyana through robotics.”

Advances and developments
The Guyanese leader also revealed that within six weeks, the Government will launch four new mobile applications to improve transparency and efficiency across Government agencies. These apps will enable citizens to conduct business directly with Government departments online, while simultaneously ensuring that officials remain accountable through digital tracking systems. On the infrastructure front, President Ali indicated that due to rising travel demands, plans are underway to expand Terminal 2 at the CJIA, which is already under construction. “Someone asked me, ‘Who will use it?’” the president said. “But already the study came back suggesting that we might have to look at expanding that terminal too. This tells you where Guyana is heading.” He noted that the new terminal will be designed to reflect the country’s biodiversity and culture, allowing passengers to “walk through and experience the essence of Guyana.” Turning to the wider development vision, President Ali outlined that by 2027, Guyana will see the reactivation of two large-scale gold mines producing over a million ounces annually, alongside the completion of the second gas pipeline, which will trigger a new wave of industrial and manufacturing investments. By 2030, he said, Guyana’s economy will be characterised by “a world-class healthcare system, advanced food production for regional export, and data centres that power the Caribbean’s digital future.”
The President stressed that the Government’s focus is on empowering citizens through sustainable opportunities, lower borrowing costs, and local enterprise development. He explained that under the new National Development Fund, small business owners could soon access up to $10 million in financing at rates as low as 3 per cent, supported by Government-backed equity. “We are building a country that is not only wealthy but wise, humble, and united,” President Ali emphasised. “Our love, our culture and our hospitality must remain the spirit of our growth. Because none of us can survive without each of us.” Saturday’s event also celebrated TOTALTEC’s opening of the SOMA Hotel & Restaurant, a multi-million-dollar US facility creating close to 100 jobs for Guyanese. President Ali commended local investors for their confidence in the nation’s future, describing their work at Houston as “a model of the private sector’s courage, innovation, and faith in Guyana’s transformation.”
“There was a time when we were struggling to get one hotel. Now, my son says, ‘Dad, another one?’ That’s the spirit of progress,” the President said, smiling. “We are no longer a nation waiting on opportunity – we are creating it, shaping it, and owning it.”