The Dr. Irfaan Ali-led Administration will roll out a suite of new digital tools in 2026 aimed at cutting waiting times, improving accountability and modernising how citizens interact with state agencies.

This was revealed by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, during his more than five-hour-long 2026 Budget presentation in the National Assembly on Monday.

The Senior Minister said the administration’s digitalisation agenda is intended to improve efficiency and transparency in public service delivery, building on existing digital solutions already used across the public sector in areas such as road safety, crime tracking, border control, telemedicine, application tracking and records management.

He said the government plans to expand digital solutions across the whole of government over the next five years.

Among the headline initiatives is the GovConnect app, which Dr. Singh said will allow users to schedule appointments online and use queue management features to reduce waiting times at government offices.

He said the app will guide users through the process, and after the appointment is completed, citizens will be able to submit feedback on service quality and overall satisfaction through the mobile platform.

Dr. Singh also announced the Citizen Connect app, which will allow members of the public to submit complaints or concerns to government while strengthening accountability for resolution. He said the platform is on schedule to be launched later this month.

Another key initiative is AskGov, a 24/7 AI assistant that the Minister said will answer questions and guide citizens through government transactions, aimed at making it easier for people to access information and complete services without unnecessary delays.

To tie the digital systems together, Dr. Singh said government will develop a MyGuyana Citizen Portal, a single, central gateway designed to allow citizens to access government services in one place.

He said the portal is intended to support a more citizen-centred, “whole-of-government” interaction, improving the client experience by making service access more timely and responsive.

Minister Singh said government is also decentralising services through the rollout of Integrated Service Centres (ISCs), with the first location already operationalised at Leonora and expansions to other regions planned for 2026.

He said the centres are intended to provide a one-stop experience for services including passports, tax administration and general registry transactions, alongside other citizen-facing services that are being digitalised.

Singh said the digitalisation drive will be supported by the national Electronic Identification (eID) system, which he described as enabling biometric verification through a single identifier to support more efficient interactions across government agencies.

Registration for the national eID cards began in 2025, with over 4,700 persons enrolled, and he noted that two eID card types will be issued: one for citizens and another for resident non-citizens with valid work permits.

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Prime Minister Mark Phillips says the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) has undergone significant modernization, marking a major shift in how the long-standing institution delivers services to the public.

According to Phillips, the corporation has integrated e-commerce systems, digital customer service tools and improved logistics, while still maintaining its mandate of keeping “people, organisations and communities connected.” He noted that efficiency and technological advancement have been prioritised across the agency.

Over the past five years, Phillips said GPOC has also made substantial infrastructure investments, with several post offices reconstructed and rehabilitated countrywide. He pointed out that technological modernization became “a cornerstone” of the transformation with the launch of the operational readiness for e-commerce project, which has enhanced tracking capabilities, delivery standards and data quality.

Highlighting achievements recorded in 2025, the Prime Minister said GPOC facilitated “automated e-ticket mailing for the Safe Road Intelligence System” in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force.

He also noted that for the first time, the corporation developed “a user-friendly chatbot virtual assistant” on its website, providing customers with “24-7 customer service.”

Another milestone, Phillips said, was the finalisation of Guyana’s standardised postcode system. After “months of verification and testing with Universal Postal Union partners,” he said the system is now ready and is expected to enhance mail delivery efficiency when it is launched in the coming months.

Phillips said these achievements have allowed the Guyana Post Office Corporation to reposition itself “as a modern, efficient, customer-focused institution,” while continuing to serve as a vital connector for communities and supporting Guyana’s broader digital transformation agenda.

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Prime Minister Mark Phillips has signalled a major expansion of the government’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and innovation agenda from 2026, outlining a series of new programmes aimed at deepening digital skills, widening access, and positioning Guyana as a regional leader in technology and innovation.

Speaking on recent initiatives and forward planning, Phillips said more than 1,200 persons across several regions have already benefited from ICT and innovation training, forming a strong base for the next phase of expansion. He noted that through the Train the Trainers initiative, “over 100 individuals in Region One and Nine were equipped to deliver ICT training within their own communities.”

In other regions, he said approximately 875 persons in Regions Two, Four, Five, Six and Ten received foundational ICT training, while disability-focused ICT programmes “empowered 24 persons in Region Four.” Innovation camps, Phillips added, also exposed “a further 169 participants to creative problem-solving and collaborative innovation.”

Building on what he described as “five years of foundational work,” the Prime Minister said the Industry and Innovation Unit under the Office of the Prime Minister will significantly expand its programming between 2026 and 2031. Among the planned initiatives are new training programmes in “artificial intelligence, animation, web design and development,” as well as “specialised coding camps for girls.”

He further announced that government plans to launch several flagship initiatives, including “research and development schemes, a developer’s conference, Guyana’s first Innovation and Technology Week, and an innovation lab to provide physical infrastructure for collaborative development and prototyping.”

According to Phillips, these efforts are intended to ensure that “inclusive, innovation-driven development will move closer to realization while positioning Guyana as a regional leader in digital transformation.”

The Prime Minister also pointed to continued progress under the Hinterland Poor and Remote Communities (HPRC) Project, which targets improved digital access in remote areas. He said to date, “170 ICT hubs” have been constructed to support education, telemedicine and government services. In 2025 alone, “33 new hub managers” were trained, bringing the total since 2022 to 192 trained managers nationwide.

Across 44 communities, Phillips said 130 community development officers and nearly 2,500 residents have been trained in basic ICT skills. He added that institutional capacity was also strengthened through training for 20 officers from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs in “digital communication, productivity tools, cybersecurity awareness and ministry platforms.”

Regional public servants were not left out, with Phillips noting that “189 public servants within regional democratic councils were trained to better leverage digital tools for community outreach, data management and coordination.”

Looking ahead to 2026, the Prime Minister announced that “15 new ICT hubs will be built,” while training initiatives will be scaled up significantly. He said government is targeting “2,000 additional community members” for ICT training to ensure digital literacy becomes more widespread, particularly at the community level.

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The Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) has formally launched Guyana’s National Early Warning System (EWS), a new mechanism aimed at strengthening the country’s ability to detect, assess, and respond to new psychoactive substances (NPS) and emerging drug threats.

According to CANU’s 2025 Public Briefing, the Early Warning System was launched this year as part of efforts to enhance Guyana’s national drug-control framework and align local responses with regional and international standards.

The Unit said the system is designed to support “rapid alerts, evidence-based interventions, and informed policy responses,” while improving national preparedness to address evolving drug trends.

CANU explained that the EWS integrates inputs from law enforcement, forensic services, health agencies, and analytical bodies, creating a coordinated structure to monitor and respond to new substances entering the illicit market.

The agency noted that the system “strengthens national capacity to detect, assess, and respond to new psychoactive substances and emerging drug threats,” positioning Guyana to respond more effectively to changes in trafficking patterns and substance use.

The introduction of the Early Warning System also places Guyana in line with “regional and international best practices,” as the country continues to deepen cooperation with external partners on drug monitoring, intelligence sharing, and capacity building.

CANU said the EWS will play a critical role as synthetic drugs begin to appear in small but increasing quantities locally, allowing authorities to track trends early and respond before threats escalate.

The launch of the National Early Warning System forms part of CANU’s broader 2025 strategy to move Guyana away from being a passive transit point and towards becoming a more active disruptor within regional drug-trafficking networks

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Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Kemraj Parsram, has announced a groundbreaking project to create a National Biodiversity Information System (NBIS) for Guyana, in partnership with Yale University.

The system will help the country better understand, monitor and earn value from its rich biodiversity, especially as development and oil and gas activities expand.

Parsram explained that while Guyana is already known for protecting its forests and natural environment, the next step is knowing exactly what is there and how to use that information wisely.

“You can protect all the forests and have all the areas set aside, but you need to know what is there and how you can leverage that,” he said. “This national biodiversity information system will collect all the existing knowledge about our biodiversity and ecosystems and put it into one system.”

The NBIS will bring together scientific data, maps, research and on-the-ground observations about Guyana’s plants, animals, forests, rivers, marine life and more. Once this information is in the system, decision-makers will be able to ask very practical questions.

Parsram gave a simple example: “If you want to put a development here, you should be able to ask: What will happen to our biodiversity? If we want to prepare policy advice or guidance for His Excellency, the President, that information can be analysed and used to create policy briefs.”

A key feature of the system will be its link to real-time monitoring of the environment. This means the NBIS will not just store old reports but will constantly receive new data from the field.

“The critical part is having a system that is linked to on-the-ground, real-time monitoring of our biodiversity,” Parsram said.

One of the most advanced elements of the project is the plan to create a “digital twin” of Guyana’s marine environment, including its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), where most offshore oil operations are taking place. A digital twin is a detailed digital model of the real world that updates continuously as new data comes in.

“The idea is to create a digital twin of our marine environment,” Parsram explained. “We can create a digital twin of our oceans, of our EEZ, what is below the water, by using LiDAR, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and other tools. That will create a live image in the NBIS. You can see what is happening in those locations in real time. You can see the trees, the fauna, the flora, and you can see if there are any environmental impacts.”

To help people understand the concept, Parsram compared it to developments in medicine.

“In medicine, they are creating a digital twin of the human body,” he said. “You have the real human body, and then you have an artificial intelligence model of your body. Doctors can model what happens if they add a certain medicine and see how your heart or blood pressure might respond. It’s the same principle. We are creating a digital model of the real world and then using it to test and plan.”

According to the EPA head, the NBIS is not just about monitoring and protection. It is also about putting a fair value on Guyana’s biodiversity so the country and local communities can benefit financially from keeping nature intact.

“Once we know what we have, and we know that the actions we are taking to protect it are effective, we can then value that biodiversity,” Parsram said. “We can convert that into things like biocredits, which we can sell to international organisations. Communities can benefit. We can also look at other biodiversity financing mechanisms like green bonds.”

Biocredits are similar to carbon credits but focus on protecting species and ecosystems instead of just reducing emissions. Green bonds are special financial instruments that raise money for environmental projects. By building a solid, science-based system like the NBIS, Guyana can prove what it is protecting and make a stronger case for this type of financing.

Parsram noted that the project will be rolled out over the next five years and will support Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which aims to balance economic growth with environmental protection.

“This big national biodiversity information system is what we are working on for the next five years. It is going to be groundbreaking,” he said. “The digital twin is mind-boggling, but it is the way to go. This is the next step in advancing the work of the Low Carbon Development Strategy and creating new financial mechanisms for our people.”

He added that there is currently no proper global system that values biodiversity in countries that have made major efforts to protect their forests and ecosystems. Guyana, he said, is once again positioning itself as a leader.

“At this point, there is no real valuation for biodiversity in countries that have been dedicating their efforts to protecting their ecosystems,” Parsram said. “So Guyana is once again leading the way.”

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Guyana is preparing to make medical history next year, with President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali confirming that the country will conduct its first robotic-assisted surgery. The announcement was made on Friday at the launch of the Guyana Digital School at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

The procedure will involve specialised surgeons in the United States operating on patients in Guyana through advanced robotic systems. The President described the development as a major milestone in Guyana’s push into the Fourth Industrial Revolution and noted that it reflects the country’s growing focus on digital skills and modern technological training.

He explained that the ongoing expansion of digital infrastructure is positioning young people to work in fields where medicine, robotics, artificial intelligence and real-time remote connectivity come together. The Digital School, he added, is already exposing students to the type of virtual and practical environments where these technologies operate.

According to the President, robotic surgery is not just a boost to the health sector but a clear indication of Guyana’s intention to lead digital transformation across all areas of development. He pointed out that the move fits with global trends, where robotics are increasingly used to improve surgical precision, speed up recovery, and deliver better patient outcomes.

The introduction of robotic-assisted procedures comes as Guyana continues to rapidly modernise its health system, from expanding telemedicine hubs to upgrading hospitals and rolling out advanced diagnostic services in far-flung regions. President Ali said this next step positions the country to build a health sector ready for 2050 and beyond.

#GuyanaNews#guyanahealth#guyananice

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The Guyana Prison Service (GPS) has implemented the testing of electronic ankle bracelets to better monitor inmates who are task to perform work within and outside of the prison facility.

Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot stated that this form of technology has the potential to revolutionize the way the service monitors and rehabilitates incarcerated individuals, especially those involved in various rehabilitation programs.

“By utilizing advanced technology, these devices will allow prison officers to know the exact location of the inmate and alert them quickly if they are outside the authorized zone,” the director stressed.

The bracelets are tamper-resistant devices worn around the ankles and must be worn at all times.

The device uses radio frequency signals to communicate with a monitoring station.

The Director indicated that he will continue to engage the Minister of Home Affairs to ensure that the programme is expanded to cover key areas of priority which will create real impact in the lives of the inmates and the community.

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Guyana is gearing up to roll out four new government mobile applications over the next six weeks in a bid to deepen its digital transformation, President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced during the inauguration of the SOMA Hotel. The apps are designed to enhance transparency in public services and bolster accountability of officials, forming part of a sweeping initiative to modernize how the state interacts with citizens.

At the core of the move is Guyana’s national digitization programme, which aims for most government services to be fully digital by mid-2026. Alongside the apps, the programme encompasses investment in digital infrastructure, incorporation of artificial intelligence into public administrative systems, and stronger coordination among government agencies.

President Ali made promises about what’s ahead: among them, a robotics-enabled hospital to be completed by end-2026 with telemedicine and AI facilities that allow patients in Guyana to connect with surgeons abroad, and expansion of Terminal Two at Cheddi Jagan International Airport to meet growing demand, while also projecting the airport’s design will reflect Guyana’s biodiversity and cultural heritage. He also spoke of economic and industrial plans, including reactivating two gold mines by 2027 and building a second gas pipeline to support new manufacturing investments.

In his remarks, President Ali cast the transformation as more than just technical. He said Guyana’s goal is not just to become “wealthy but wise, humble, and united,” emphasizing that culture, hospitality, and unity must underpin growth.

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Guyana’s national security architecture is evolving into a modern, data-driven system designed not only to protect borders and resources but also to safeguard citizens in every corner of the country.

This is according to Colonel Sheldon Howell, Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), who appeared on Episode 4 of Safeguarding Our Nation to explain how national security is everyone’s business.

“National security protects our people, our land, and our way of life,” Howell stated.

He explained that the national security system unites all branches of government, incorporating key agencies such as NISA, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU), the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), the Guyana Prison Service (GPS), and the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

At the centre of this framework, Howell emphasised, are the people of Guyana.

“At the heart of this architecture is you, the citizens,” he emphasised.

Guyana’s national security strategy, Howell explained, now integrates advanced surveillance and response tools.

These include drones, artificial intelligence (AI), satellite imagery, CCTV systems, and GPS-enabled patrols, all coordinated to respond to threats across land, air, sea, and cyberspace.

“It uses modern tools like drones, sophisticated cameras, satellite imagery, AI, and other data platforms that are coordinated in such a way that they respond quickly to threats,” he said.

“NISA collects the data, processes it, and disseminates it to local and international partners — including the USA, UK, Brazil, France, and countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.”

One successful operation involved shutting down illegal airstrips and mining camps deep in Region Nine.

“Drones spotted illegal airstrips and mining camps. We were able to deploy teams quickly to shut down those operations, thanks to community information as well as aerial surveillance.”

Another case involved the interception of Venezuelan vessels that had crossed illegally into Guyana’s waters.

“We have radar systems and coastal surveillance, along with GPS tap patrol, that let us intercept these vessels to protect our territory.”

In urban centres, the government has implemented CCTV cameras and e-ticketing systems to help reduce traffic violations and assist police with investigations.

In remote areas, cross-border tracking systems are used to monitor the movement of individuals, allowing authorities to detect and understand potential threats more effectively.

“But at the heart of it is the command centre, which connects the dots and helps us to respond quickly,” Howell explained. “You may not see the work all the time, but work is being done behind the scenes to keep our people and our country safe.”

Howell noted that the government is not just focused on acquiring equipment but also on building human capital. The recently launched National Defence Institute (NDI) is one example.

“The Institute seeks to bring together military personnel, academia, the private sector, civil society, and Caribbean nations with the aim to understand common threats and assist in formulating new policies and strategies.”

With growing surveillance capabilities, Howell acknowledged the public’s concerns about privacy and emphasised the government’s commitment to responsible use of technology.

“This is a valid concern, even for me. We take this very seriously. We don’t want to take away people’s freedom; we want to protect it,” he said. “Yes, we use sophisticated technology, but we stick rigidly to the laws that govern us.”

He assured the public that every piece of surveillance equipment is logged and audited, with strict access control and traceability systems in place. Plans are also underway to introduce an oversight board that includes civil society representatives.

“These tools are not a threat once they are used with discipline and with the purpose to earn the public’s trust.”

Howell revealed that the country has strengthened its response mechanisms for missing persons, particularly children. Soon, Guyana will launch a national alert system.

“This system will send real-time information to phones, televisions, radios, and social media platforms,” he said.

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More than 132,000 residents are benefiting from the Government of Guyana’s high-speed WiFiGY service, which utilises low-earth-orbiting satellites. According to a recent post on the Office of the Prime Minister’s page, the initiative now delivers reliable internet speeds exceeding 200 megabits per second.

The WiFiGY Programme was established by the Government to bridge the digital divide and ensure all Guyanese have internet access regardless of their location.

Currently, 236 of 253 hinterland communities in the Remote and Riverain regions are connected. This connectivity enables residents to study online, allows health centers to coordinate telemedicine services, and supports small business operators who are utilizing the benefits of the initiative.

The remaining communities are expected to be brought online in the coming months as the Government aims to achieve full coverage nationwide.

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