President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday declared that Bartica and the wider Region Seven economy are experiencing a strong rebound, pointing to billions in revenue, thousands of jobs and renewed investment across the mining and natural resources sectors.
The Head of State, while outlining developments in the region, noted that Region Seven accounted for 41 per cent of Guyana’s total gold production in 2025, with small and medium-scale miners playing a major role in that output.
He said those miners alone declared more than 105,400 ounces of gold, translating to approximately $88 billion in revenue for the region.
“The small and medium-sized miners would have declared from region 7, 105,400 plus ounces of gold… what that equates to is $88 billion of revenue,” the President stated, adding that over 1,100 small miners and about 190 medium-scale miners were involved in that production.
According to President Ali, the sector’s growth has had a ripple effect across Bartica’s economy, generating employment and opportunities well beyond mining itself. He said the industry has directly and indirectly supported more than 20,000 jobs while stimulating activity in entertainment, hospitality, transport, mechanical services, banking and insurance.
Reflecting on the town’s recent past, the President said Bartica had seen a downturn in the years leading up to 2020.
“As I was reminded today, just between the period 2015 to 2020, Bartica was asleep. Nothing was happening. The town was becoming empty. Development was stalled. Mining was paused and investment was nowhere to be seen,” he said.
“Today, the story is much different, as I have just demonstrated.”
He further pointed to renewed investment in quarrying and forestry, noting that 10 new quarries have come on stream in Region Seven over the past five years, generating thousands of jobs and significant private investment.
Forestry operations are also expanding, with 95 small concessions and 11 large concessions covering about 4.3 million acres and creating additional employment across the region.
The President highlighted the impact of new private investment, including a mining company at Oko West which, as of December 2025, had already employed nearly 900 persons and 256 small contractors. He said the operation is expected to reach about 2,200 employees by October 2026, further boosting economic activity in the region.
He attributed the renewed confidence to government support measures such as tax concessions, fiscal incentives and the removal of excise taxes on fuel for the sector. “All of these are things that would have stimulated confidence in investment and allowed the region to grow the way it is growing,” he said.
Looking ahead, President Ali said additional infrastructure is being planned to support continued growth, including new airstrips and a proposed bridge to link the Puruni area. He also acknowledged challenges facing small and medium-scale miners, such as access to capital, security and formal documentation.
The government, he said, is exploring the formation of mining consortiums and standardised contracts to better support smaller operators and ensure predictability in the sector. Discussions on these measures are expected to advance within the coming weeks.
