–President Ali says

GUYANA is moving to finalise a comprehensive human capital strategy designed to tackle critical labour shortages, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has said.

The President, during his appearance on the podcast: The Rest Is Politics: Leading with Alastair Campbell, said the Guyanese Diaspora is a major element in this plan.

The Head of State said: “So we are now finalising that human capital strategy, which is linked to the migration strategy and the type of human capital that we need. And you know, the world is going through a crisis in healthcare.”

He pointed out that Guyana is not the only nation dealing with the healthcare challenge of nurses migrating, as other countries such as the United Kingdom (UK) is facing this too.

The President also highlighted how Guyana is building a modern healthcare system with the capacity and capability to train nurses, pharmacists, technologists and doctors to meet this future requirement.

The finalisation of this human capital strategy will be used to structure the education system to examine the gap that exists.

“The human resource information system gap would allow us to understand what gap exists, and where are the potential areas we can recruit human capital from to fill this gap,” Dr. Ali said.

Earlier this week, President Ali announced salary adjustments for health workers as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to improve working conditions for medical professionals.

He said: “Before the end of this year, adjustments will be made for our nurses and other medical workers, so that you cannot only have better salaries, better welfare, better conditions of work. You know when we say we will do it; it will be done.”

The announcement forms part of a broader initiative aimed at enhancing both the remuneration of personnel and working environments for medical professionals across the country.

The government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that health workers receive fair compensation in recognition of their critical role in national development.

President Ali had called on Guyanese living abroad to return home to contribute and witness the nation’s metamorphosis first-hand.

The Head of State made this call during an engagement with the Guyanese Diaspora in St. Lucia, where he issued an invigorating call.

“We are in a period of transition; I firmly believe that a lot of Guyanese in the Diaspora will return home,” he predicted with unwavering confidence.

“The conditions that drove Guyanese out of Guyana are quickly changing,” he asserted, projecting an optimistic future where, by 2027-2028, Guyana would not only match but potentially exceed the living and professional standards that many in the Diaspora sought elsewhere.

He also pointed to the multimillion-dollar national skill training centre, and the world-class Tourism and Hospitality Institute, signalling a robust approach to economic diversification and skill development.