US$285M Berbice port project to create 1,000 jobs

Work will soon commence on a US$285 million port project in East Berbice-Corentyne that is expected to create 1,000 new jobs, President Dr Irfaan Ali announced during a community meeting on Friday.

Speaking at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) in New Amsterdam, Ali told residents—many of whom gathered despite persistent rainfall—that the port will be developed by local shipping companies Muneshwers Limited and John Fernandes Limited.

“They want to turn the sod in the coming weeks. [It] will be an investment of US$285 million [and] will create 1,000 jobs,” the president said.

The new port project is set to complement a larger deep-water port initiative in the region, which the government is currently planning in collaboration with US-based construction and engineering firm Bechtel. The company has previously managed deep-water port developments in Saudi Arabia, the United States, Australia, and the UAE.

Ali said the deep-water port is intended to support Guyana’s second gas project.

“That port will open up tremendous opportunities for transport, logistics, accommodation, real estate, [and] construction,” he said. (DPI)