With the oil and gas sector currently on stream, Guyana can expect an increase in marine traffic. However, during the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Annual General Meeting (AGM), President Dr. Irfaan Ali acknowledged that the country does not have the facilities to meet the projected increase in marine traffic over the next several years.
Photo Credit: (OilNow)
“In another three years, the growth in traffic will be so immense that we will not be able to process in an efficient and effective, reliable, and cost-effective manner, the traffic that will flow through there.”
Therefore, the President stressed that his Government is now tasked with planning for waterfront development to cater to these growing demands.
“So we have to start planning how we will deal with our waterfront development. How will waterfront development emerge? Where are we going to locate chemical types of activities?”
He revealed that a Minister had been tasked with securing international experts’ services to assist with this planning.
“I have asked the Minister to secure the services of international experts who will come here in a timely manner…to work with the Government and the private sector on a waterfront development, wharf facility development, and a zoning development for Guyana. Very, very critical in moving forward.”
He noted that the Private Sector would be provided with incentives to play a role in this development.
“Everybody is saying that we are starting from behind with the oil and gas, I agree. Trinidad is there long before us, but we just can’t continue saying we are starting from behind. We have to have a clear objective as to where we want to be and what are the investments we need to make to ensure the private sector is there to be part of this future,” he stressed.
[Extracted and Modified from OilNow]
