MINISTER of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar, has said that Guyana is moving to consolidate its position as a regional maritime hub, with the government targeting major upgrades to ports and maritime infrastructure amid the rapidly expanding shipping activity in the country.
The Minister made this known on Tuesday while delivering remarks at the opening ceremony of the 31st Caribbean Port State Control Conference, which was held at the AC Marriott Hotel.
Indar told the gathering that the administration has made it clear that developing Guyana into a maritime hub is now a central policy direction, driven by rising trade volumes and increased offshore economic activity.
“President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has expressed that by charging the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation to make Guyana a maritime hub. It is our journey now to make sure that that is a reality,” he said.
As such, he pointed to significant growth in the sector since 2020, noting that vessel traffic has increased significantly over the period, reflecting heightened commercial activity linked to Guyana’s expanding economy.
He also highlighted a sharp rise in imports, saying volumes have increased from about 42,000 tonnes per annum to nearly 150,000 tonnes annually, placing new demands on port capacity and regulatory systems.
“That growth is strong, and it will continue over the next two decades, but it places greater responsibility on us to maintain high standards of maritime governance, environmental stewardship and operational excellence,” the minister said.
According to Indar, the surge in maritime activity is directly tied to Guyana’s broader economic transformation, particularly the expansion of offshore oil and gas operations and associated logistics chains. He said this growth trajectory is expected to continue, making long-term planning and infrastructure development critical.
The minister noted that the government is already advancing efforts to modernise port systems, including the introduction of digital maritime management platforms and expanded compliance systems aligned with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) standards.
With this, he said Guyana has conducted multiple port state control inspections in 2025 and continues to vet hundreds of vessels through online clearance systems linked to offshore operations, as part of efforts to improve efficiency and oversight.
The Minister went on to note that as maritime traffic increases, Guyana must strengthen its regulatory and operational frameworks to ensure safety, efficiency and competitiveness in line with international expectations.
At the same time, he highlighted that global shipping is undergoing major changes, including digitalisation, decarbonisation and stricter environmental requirements, all of which require coordinated adaptation by maritime authorities.
As such, Indar disclosed that collaboration through regional platforms such as the Caribbean Port State Control framework remains essential to ensuring that smaller states can manage rising maritime demands effectively.