His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali has encouraged Guyanese in St Kitts and Nevis to take advantage of the rapid national development, which is creating vast opportunities for citizens at home and abroad.
Addressing members of the Guyanese community recently, President Ali said Guyana is undergoing an extraordinary phase of national transformation, driven by investments in energy, agriculture, tourism, healthcare, education, and infrastructure. He noted that the country’s energy strategy is not only designed to secure Guyana’s future but also to enhance energy security across the Caribbean.
“We will be implementing a number of measures that will give you access to the opportunities that we have back home. The decision is in your hands as to how you want to participate, if you want to participate, and at what level you want to participate,” President Ali said.
Guyana’s rapid growth has created a significant demand for labour and skills, President Ali explained. He stated that the build-out of Guyana’s infrastructure has opened new opportunities for members of the diaspora to return home and contribute to national development.
In his address, President Ali also highlighted major advancements in healthcare and education, including the construction of new regional hospitals, the development of a world-class oncology centre, and the expansion of internationally recognised training programmes.
“We have been able, so far, to complete six new state-of-the-art regional hospitals with all of the facilities. We are now completing the first phase of the development of a world-class oncology centre. We are about 55% completed of the new level five, which is the highest level, maternal and children hospital,” the President explained.
He noted that free education and scholarship opportunities are available to Guyanese, including those in the diaspora.
He noted, too, that while the country positions itself as a major food producer for the Caribbean, it is also focusing on expanding its tourism offerings, with several new hotels, stadiums, and modern facilities being constructed to support economic diversification and job creation.
The government, he added, is also advancing digital systems and improving access to services to better support citizens living abroad.
“So we are now moving towards a digital ID. We have already launched the digital ID.
It will be integrated into the entire national ecosystem. For a matter of fact, we are now talking to the UAE in bringing into Guyana a data integrator that would allow this unique digital ID to be used across multiple platforms in conducting business and so on,” President Ali explained.
Additionally, the President announced the possibility of a team visiting the island to aid the processing of backlogged Passports and Birth Certificates.
His meeting with the Guyanese diaspora was held on the sidelines of the 50th Regular Meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government in St Kitts and Nevis.
The Honourable Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Terrence Drew, was also at the meeting.