SDGs guide Guyana’s development path, says President Ali

President Dr. Irfaan Ali has affirmed that Guyana’s economic growth must align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring that the nation’s oil wealth contributes to long-term prosperity.

Speaking at the GCCI Energy Insights Breakfast, the President cautioned against chasing short-term gains and highlighted specific SDGs that guide the country’s development:

– SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy: Hydropower, solar farms in hinterland communities, and natural gas as a transition fuel.

– SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth: Job creation and skills training to enable Guyanese to fill these positions.

– SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Bridges, ports, and ICT hubs connecting Guyana nationally and internationally.

– SDG 13 – Climate Action: Forest protection through the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS 2030), balancing oil production with environmental stewardship.

– SDGs 14 & 15 – Life Below Water and on Land: Responsible management of natural resources to ensure abundance for future generations.

“Let us commit—the Government, private sector, civil society, and citizens alike—to ensuring that when history judges us, it does not say that Guyana had oil. Let it say that Guyana had vision, that Guyana had courage, and that Guyana had the wisdom to power a sustainable future for all,” he said.

The SDGs provide a global benchmark for development, and Guyana’s government has integrated them into national planning, particularly in the energy, infrastructure, and environmental sectors.