Guyana’s economic progress should be measured not only by how well it transforms its infrastructure and social services, but also by the extent to which citizens can thrive in their respective communities. This point was highlighted by the Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Captain Gerald Gouveia Jnr. as he reflected on President Irfaan Ali’s latest plans to transform villages into centres of care, commerce and connectivity.
While Guyana’s economic growth has attracted attention, Gouveia said headlines about the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures do not tell the entire story.
“GDP is important, but if that GDP is not reaching the person in Mabaruma, the person in Lethem, the person in Mahdia, the person in Karanambu, then we have to do some more work,” he said during an appearance on the Starting Point podcast.
For Gouveia, developing stronger village economies could give people greater freedom to participate in Guyana’s expanded growth from the communities where they already live.
“If we start to develop the villages in a way that you don’t need to leave your village to make a living, you don’t need to leave your village to make a difference and you don’t need to leave your village to take advantage of Guyana’s growth, that is how you start to really measure the success of a country,” he said.
Gouveia said he understands and supports the President’s vision for village transformation, adding that it has advantages for the business community. He emphasised that private investment is already expanding beyond Georgetown, pointing to activity in Regions Three, Five and Nine. Further community development, he said, could make other parts of the country more accessible to business.