GEORGETOWN, Guyana — President Irfaan Ali said Guyana’s rapid progress is not accidental but the result of a deliberate national transformation strategy focused on human development, efficiency and long-term societal impact.
Speaking at a sod-turning ceremony for a new ANSA McAL mall on the East Coast of Demerara, Ali drew a clear distinction between “change” and “transformation,” arguing that his government’s approach is designed to reshape the economic and social fabric of the country.
“In this transformation, we believe that efficiency, transparency, productivity and profitability must all align toward one core, and that core is human development,” Ali said. “When every aspect of the ecosystem of transformation becomes part of the journey, all of our society, all of our people, and all of our communities will enjoy the impact.”
Ali emphasized that the effects of development are already visible through rising real estate values, new infrastructure and growing investor confidence. He said the benefits of public investment extend far beyond physical projects.
“When the government invests in infrastructure, some people ask, ‘Can we eat the road?’” he said. “But it is part of the value chain. It represents confidence, opportunity and future growth.”
Ali acknowledged that democracy brings a range of views — including from critics — but insisted that national progress requires a broad ecosystem where the private sector, workers, financial institutions and communities all participate.
He said every investment, like the project being launched, is more than a business decision. “It is the ecosystem — the value chain — and how the value chain will be enhanced,” he said. “This decision would not have been made if investors did not have confidence that policymakers were investing to support what they were doing.”
Ali said transformation is not only about economic expansion but about creating an environment where development uplifts people and strengthens communities. “The impact of transformation must be felt in people’s lives,” he said. “That is the difference between change and true transformation.”