Guyana building legal framework for deepwater port, modern harbour, gas sector

…sweeping amendments coming for community concerns – AG

As the Guyana Government actively pursues the development of a deepwater harbour and modern port facilities, the legislative architecture to govern these operations is already being built out.

This is according to Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall during an appearance on a recent episode of the Starting Point podcast.

“Every aspect of Guyana is under transformation and we have legislations moving with the state of development. For example, the President [Dr Irfaan Ali] would have spoken at length about the deepwater harbour, about modern port facilities. We don’t have the legislative and architecture to govern those undertakings. We are working on that right now,” he stated.

Currently, the Government is upgrading the Parika Ferry Stelling into a modern, state-of-the-art port and waterfront development, and the works are already advancing.

Set for completion in 2028, the US$20 million Parika Modern Port and Waterfront Development Project will transform the old Parika Stelling into an international port of entry and a major regional hub for tourism, agriculture, and shipping.

On the other hand, the Government has also been touting the establishment of a deepwater port in Berbice, Region Six. A study is currently being undertaken by the United States-based Bechtel Corporation on the proposed Berbice deepwater project. That study is expected to be completed in the coming months after which Government will determine how to move forward with the project.

Just last month, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat had told Guyana Times that an Expression of Interest (EOI) is among the options Government is considering in order to ascertain the potential interest from local and foreign investors. In fact, he noted that there has already been significant interest in the project from international investors as well as Guyana’s Private Sector.

In fact, the US Export-Import (EXIM) Bank has already offered to finance the deepwater port facility – a project that the Guyanese Government has been pushing in recent years to position the country as a major regional hub.

The EXIM Bank is the official export credit agency of the US. Back in July 2022, Guyana and the EXIM Bank signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for financing of up to US$2 billion for projects in several sectors, including infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, water treatment and sanitation, and agriculture.

Legislation for gas sector

Already, the US financial institution has injected some US$527 million into the transformative Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project, which is being executed by Houston-based contractor Lindsayca Inc at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

The GtE project comprises a 300-megawatt power plant and a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility, utilising gas that will be piped onshore from the Stabroek Block. With the gas being produced, Government plans to set up a cooking gas bottling facility and a fertiliser plant.

In fact, AG Nandlall says that legislation is also being finalised to govern the use of the country’s natural gas resources.

“[For] the natural gas plant that is being constructed, we have a legislation that is completed and is going through some final stages of consultation that will regulate that sector,” he indicated during the podcast.

Nandlall was at the time speaking about the slew of legislative reforms that were introduced over the years to complement, and in some cases support, Guyana’s unprecedented economic development.

“We have no choice but to have a legislative agenda that is commensurate with and consistent with that developmental agenda of the Government as it is unfolding. And of course, we also have to keep our focus on the social issues that are important to people. Oftentimes, our ordinary citizens may not be able to relate to the mega concepts that we speak about. They are more concerned about garbage dumping in front of their homes, their drains are being clogged, their neighbours playing music or creating an environment that’s creating noise nuisance to them. Those are issues that we are alive to as well,” the Attorney General asserted.

Community issues

Against this backdrop, the Legal Affairs Minister disclosed that his office has completed a series of legislative updates that seek to address concerns within communities ranging from noise nuisance to garbage collection.

“The Attorney General chambers have completed a wide menu of amendments that are going to speak to noise nuisance, garbage collection, dumping of debris and placement of garbage on public roadways, etc.,” Nandlall stated.

According to the Minister, these comprehensive legislative amendments will be punitive in nature, attracting penalties that will include community service. These concerns were among the issues residents had raised during the widespread consultation President Ali had led for his Model Village initiative.

Launched in August 2026, the Model Village is aimed at transforming communities across Guyana by improving infrastructure, public spaces, safety and the overall quality of life of residents.

In the current pilot phase, the project is being rolled out in some 23 communities across Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six. However, the Government plans to eventually implement this initiative in every community across the country so that citizens can benefit from cleaner, greener, safer and more aesthetically pleasing environments.

Nandlall was among the team of Government Ministers who had accompanied President Ali during a series of public consultations to discuss with residents the vision under the Model Village Initiative as well as get feedback from them on other improvements they would like to see in their surroundings.