THE economic impact of infrastructural investments has been underscored by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its 2022 country report, and Guyana’s profound infrastructural investments have been applauded.

The IMF believes that the investments in infrastructure by the administration will strategically support the country’s sustainable economic growth efforts.

Some of the major investments by the government include the construction of the new Demerara River Crossing, the Corentyne River Bridge linking Guyana and Suriname, and the road infrastructure linking Guyana to Brazil.

Moreover, the IMF report highlighted that “the construction of new highways, bridges, and roads will help boost the non-energy sector,” as the government ramps up significant capital funds to modernise the country.

The IMF also believes that the construction sector will benefit from the authorities’ push to increase the housing stock across the country.

In all cases, the IMF outlines that “the procurement process will be open and competitive, including public and online viewing of the opening of bids and publication of awardees.”
This is a credit to the PPP/C government for setting up the transparency framework in developing a One Guyana policy that sees infrastructural investment, boosting the non-energy sector, as reflected in the IMF 2022 report.

Furthermore, Guyana’s development is expected to be accelerated exponentially, and with this in mind, $96.1 billion has been budgeted for 2022 for the country’s infrastructure.

The money proposed will cater for the present and future needs of Guyanese; $76.7 billion of the infrastructural budget will go towards the development of roads and bridges.

With the construction of the Corentyne River Bridge moving ahead, $8.3 billion has also been budgeted for upgrading of the highway from Palmyra to Moleson Creek.

In addition, $2.3 billion has been budgeted for the East Bank-East Coast Demerara Road linkage between Ogle and Eccles, along with $2.1 billion to commence the widening and paving of the East Bank Highway from Grove to Timehri. The rehabilitation of the entire Soesdyke-Linden Highway for $2.6 billion is currently being mobilised.

The Government of Guyana is embarking on a massive, countrywide road-widening project. This is because the existing width of roads needs to be improved for the ever-increasing traffic.

Roads are the arteries through which the economy pulses. By linking producers to markets, workers to jobs, students to school, and the sick to hospitals, roads are vital to any development agenda.

The PPP administration understands that roads facilitate education, health, and social services combined.

The Ministry of Public Works continues to ensure that roads are constructed countrywide, providing improved accessibility for all Guyanese countrywide.