‘That confusion on the road is a good problem’ -GCCI head backs infrastructure push, says Guyanese are building Guyana
President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Kathy Smith, says the visible disruption many motorists complain about on newly built and expanding roadways is actually a sign of progress, arguing that Guyanese contractors are now doing the work that once would have been outsourced.
Speaking on the Starting Point podcast, Smith said her optimism ahead of Budget 2026 is rooted not in figures alone, but in what she described as a lived, daily experience of development.
“So the next time you drive on a road and you might find some form of confusion, I say to people, see, that’s a good problem because guess what? That’s a Guyanese that is building that small road there. Have some patience with them,” Smith said.
She acknowledged that criticisms about workmanship and delays persist but pushed back against the notion that infrastructure development has been poorly executed.
“Yes, you’re hearing the criticism that the work is not being done properly. It’s shabby, but it’s not so. It’s not so. We might have some faults. And the fault is that we are getting there. We are developing our skills,” she said.
Smith argued that the government deliberately chose to empower local companies instead of importing foreign expertise, even if that meant a learning curve.
“I am pretty sure this government could have said, you know what? Let us go bring the experts from out of Guyana and let them build out our road and the other public infrastructure. And then Guyanese would have said, but why can’t we do it? But we are doing it,” she added.
Pointing to the scale of public investment, Smith said the 2025 budget, estimated at about US$6.6 billion, was unprecedented and its impact is now plainly visible across all ten administrative regions.
“I can trace the government’s budget increase and the investment in this country, even without having an idea as to the amount that the budget is being moved to year after year,” she said, noting expanded highways, bridges, culverts and concrete roads in areas that were once “mud and backdam.”
Smith said this approach has also allowed Guyanese businesses to directly benefit from the infrastructure boom, something she described as critical to sustaining economic growth.
“The excitement for me is the budget has catered for Guyanese businesses to build all the infrastructure,” she said.
Looking ahead to Budget 2026, Smith said the private sector remains “very optimistic,” citing ongoing consultations with Finance Minister Ashni Singh and previous policy wins, including the removal of VAT on agricultural equipment and backup generators.
“We might not get all, but I know come 2026 budget, we’re going to hear something and the private sector would be smiling,” she said.
Smith maintained that a strong partnership between government and business is essential if Guyana is to maintain its status as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.
“If we are to carry that brand… the private sector, which is the engine of growth of any economy, must be strong and robust,” she said.
