JUST a decade ago, Georgetown’s skyline only had chirping birds, and the only highway we knew of had just two lanes. Today, long stretches of urban housing communities now exist where bushes and greenery alone once flourished. Urbanisation in Guyana increases the country’s economic growth and standard of living for said urban areas. However, I do not think Guyana has considered the social and even environmental implications this might have on our existing rural areas. Georgetown and its surrounding communities have been transformed into urban centres that provide access to employment and services within commerce, construction, and government—just to name a few. This is an excellent improvement for the country’s economic growth, but I think it’s time we look deeper into how rural communities are affected.

People from rural communities are migrating from their homes to the city areas in pursuit of economic prosperity and career development. This is not a new phenomenon. Communities in rural Guyana, such as East Berbice-Corentyne or the Essequibo rural regions, have faced significant “brain drain” over the years. Have we considered how this impacts the existing economic growth of the rural areas? Guyana’s rural areas are mostly known for their agricultural and industrial sectors. With that in mind, are we equitably investing in those sectors to ensure that the economic development of rural areas also improves?

Unfortunately, the capital city of Guyana, Georgetown, currently sits below sea level and has been prone to flooding in recent years. Rising sea levels, pollution, and climate change amplify this. Urbanisation has rapidly transformed the coastal regions. As such, environmental sustainability should be considered to eliminate further risks. Poor drainage systems, deforestation, and unchecked construction have put many communities at risk, especially during the rainy seasons. To solve this issue, Guyana ought to continue considering the use of urban planning in all of its current and future infrastructure projects because environmental disasters will only cause economic and social ripple effects in rural communities—communities that are even more vulnerable to financial and social collapse than urban areas.

There are many social disparities to consider with vast economic growth. The rise in the cost of living is not isolated from Guyana’s rise in economic growth. Rural citizens should not be subjected to social inequality or insecurity because of their geographical locations. With the inaccessibility of many rural communities, infrastructure development will take decades to achieve, leaving these communities without the advancements enjoyed by coastal communities. The world looks on as Guyana’s economy becomes the fastest-growing one. Nonetheless, the decisions that our leaders make today will not only impact the public transportation we ride or the types of buildings that are constructed—they will define the quality of life for every citizen in and outside the coastlands. Every region and community—from Lethem to Monkey Mountain, Black Bush Polder, or Linden—deserves equitable access to our country’s wealth and development.