CHAIRMAM of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Captain Gerald Gouveia Jr., is urging Guyanese entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals to move decisively into emerging sectors of the economy, declaring that the country is no longer anticipating opportunity but actively living through it.
Speaking on Guyana’s rapid economic expansion and the growing demand within the housing and construction sectors, Gouveia said the scale of current development signals a historic window for investment, innovation, and private sector participation.
“There is no more waiting for an opportunity, it is here,” he said, stressing that Guyana’s economy is among the fastest growing globally and that non-oil sectors are now outpacing oil-driven growth.
According to the PSC Chairman, this shift reflects a broadening of economic activity beyond the petroleum industry, creating wider and deeper opportunities across multiple sectors, particularly housing, construction, and related services.
However, he cautioned that rapid expansion is also placing significant pressure on national systems, including the labour market, material supply chains, and housing infrastructure.
“It puts pressure on what we’re able to achieve; and what this is showing me is that we’re no longer just preparing for the growth. We are growing and we are managing that growth in real time,” Gouveia said.
He noted that despite these pressures, the economic environment is already producing tangible benefits for ordinary Guyanese, including increased home ownership, expanded small business participation in contracts, and the formation of partnerships and consortiums aimed at accessing larger development projects. He also pointed to the potential for families to build generational wealth through current opportunities.
Gouveia further highlighted a shift in industry thinking, particularly in construction, where traditional materials are increasingly being supplemented by modern approaches such as modular construction, sustainable building systems, and efficiency-driven technologies.
“We are talking about sustainable development, sustainable materials, and solutions designed for speed,” he said, noting the Government’s ambition to deliver thousands of housing units annually over the coming years.
He argued that meeting such targets will require greater speed, efficiency, and resilience across the private sector, alongside innovation in both materials and construction methods.
While acknowledging the Government’s role in creating an enabling environment through policy and tax measures, Gouveia emphasised that execution lies primarily with the private sector.
“The government can remove taxes or create a framework for growth, but it is up to the private sector to execute that growth and make that vision a reality,” he said.
He called on businesses to invest in value-added production and local manufacturing, while also prioritising skills development to ensure the workforce can keep pace with industry demands.
“We have to develop global capacity to start creating things locally,” Gouveia said, adding that upskilling and training will be critical to sustaining long-term growth in the construction sector.
He also noted that private sector actors are increasingly forming consortiums to better position themselves for large-scale projects emerging from national development plans.
“The government is showing us the way, and we have to come together as private sector and continue to form these partnerships and take advantage of them. So, the opportunities are open,” he said.
Gouveia encouraged small contractors, young professionals, entrepreneurs, and members of the diaspora considering investment opportunities to actively participate in the housing sector and upcoming initiatives, including International Building Expo 2026.
