By NAN Business Editor

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. Oct. 9, 2025: The South American CARICOM nation of Guyana is defying global economic gravity. According to the World Bank’s October 2025 Global Economic Prospects Report on Latin America and the Caribbean, it is the only country in the Americas forecast to record double-digit GDP growth through 2027.

The opening of the new Bharrat Jadgeo Demerara River bridge adds to the growth in Guyana. (DPI Image)

The report projects Guyana’s real GDP growth at 11.8% in 2025, jumping to 22.4% in 2026 and 24.0% in 2027, fueled by an oil and gas boom that continues to transform its economy. No other nation in the hemisphere comes close to those figures.

A Lone Outlier in a Slow-Growth Hemisphere

While Guyana soars, the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean will expand at far slower rates. The World Bank projects the region’s average growth at just 2.3% in 2025, edging up to 2.5% by 2027, restrained by weak investment, high borrowing costs, and sluggish productivity.

The top ten fastest-growing economies for 2025–2027 are as follows:

Rank Country 2025 Forecast (%) 2026 Forecast (%) 2027 Forecast (%) Key Growth Driver 1Guyana11.822.424.0Oil exports, infrastructure, FDI 2Paraguay4.23.73.7Agriculture, hydropower 3Argentina4.64.04.0Energy sector recovery 4Dominican Republic3.04.34.5Tourism, services, investment 5Costa Rica3.63.63.7Tech exports, green economy 6Panama3.94.14.1Logistics, services, canal expansion 7Suriname3.23.43.7Mining, oil projects 8Guatemala3.93.73.7Remittances, construction 9Grenada3.73.32.7Tourism, public investment 10St. Lucia3.92.52.1Tourism rebound

Guyana’s dominance is clear — growing at three to five times the pace of any other country in the region.

The Power Behind Guyana’s Boom

Since 2020, offshore oil discoveries have catapulted Guyana into the ranks of the world’s fastest-expanding economies. ExxonMobil and its consortium partners have already lifted daily output above 600,000 barrels, with projections to exceed one million barrels by decade’s end.

The government’s Natural Resource Fund (NRF) manages oil revenues to support infrastructure, health, education, and renewable energy projects. Massive road and housing programs, along with plans for a new gas-to-energy plant, are laying the groundwork for diversification including the just opened Demerara Harbour Bridge, renamed the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge.  The US$262 million engineering feat, Guyana’s longest and most advanced river crossing, now connects both sides of the Demerara River with 24/7 traffic, marking a turning point in national infrastructure. Constructed by China Railway Construction Corporation, the new structure replaces the venerable Demerara Harbour Bridge with four vehicle lanes, pedestrian and cyclist paths, and unrestricted river passage for ships. With foundations anchored by 658 piles, it is now the nation’s strongest bridge.

Economists warn, however, that sustaining momentum requires strong governance, transparent spending, and investment in human capital.

World Bank: Reforms Needed for “Transformational” Entrepreneurship

Beyond oil, the report calls for domestic reforms to attract investment and promote “transformational” entrepreneurship — high-growth firms that diffuse technology, create jobs, and raise productivity.

“The entrepreneur is the critical actor in development, identifying opportunities, innovating, and taking the risks needed to create value added and jobs,” said William Maloney, Chief Economist for Latin America and the Caribbean at the World Bank. “Creating more dynamic economies in Latin America and the Caribbean will require strengthening our pipeline of entrepreneurial talent, while undertaking the systemic reforms necessary for them to thrive.”

Despite enthusiasm for entrepreneurship, most firms in the region are micro or small enterprises with limited paths to scale — representing up to 70% of businesses in some countries. The Bank argues that a smaller group of high-growth, innovative firms could drive productivity and innovation but face familiar barriers: scarce financing, burdensome regulation, skills shortages, and weak infrastructure.

To foster private-sector-led growth, the report proposes a three-point reform agenda:

Invest in Human Capital – Improve education at all levels, expand managerial training, and align workforce programs with private-sector needs to fuel job creation.

Reform Business Regulation – Remove distortionary subsidies, modernize tax policy, and upgrade logistics, energy, and digital systems to reduce entry barriers.

Expand Access to Finance – With a quarter of firms credit-constrained, the Bank urges stronger risk-sharing, streamlined dispute resolution, and modern bankruptcy laws to support both lenders and entrepreneurs.

The Road Ahead

The World Bank warns that without reforms, much of the region risks stagnation. Yet, with the right mix of fiscal prudence, institutional reform, and inclusive entrepreneurship, Latin America and the Caribbean could reignite growth and competitiveness.

In that effort, Guyana’s success story — balancing oil wealth with long-term investment — may serve as both an inspiration and a cautionary tale for its neighbors.

NASSAU, The Bahamas, Oct. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Six months after the launch of its Foundational Grid Upgrade Project and one year since providing restoration and maintenance activities, the Bahamas Grid Company (BGC) has released its first comprehensive Progress Metrics Report. The report highlights major upgrades to the transmission and distribution systems serving New Providence, paving the way for greater reliability, resilience, and power quality.

Early results show the project is already transforming electricity delivery, with outages declining sharply and thousands of customers now experiencing enhanced service quality.

Building a Stronger, More Resilient Grid

Progress on the $130 million initiative is well ahead of schedule—28% faster than planned—with major infrastructure improvements completed or underway:

144 new steel poles installed, replacing aging wooden structures and providing Category 5 hurricane-grade resilience.

153,120 feet of transmission cable reconductored with double-sized wire to accommodate future load growth and new generation sources.

42,240 feet of distribution cable reconductored to remediate system vulnerabilities and support expanding customer demand.

Three new substations under construction to enhance system protection and enable rerouting of power to prevent large-scale outages.

Leveraging Smart Technologies to Reduce Outages

The deployment of advanced grid technologies is delivering measurable results in outage reduction and faster response times:

47 IntelliRupters installed on high-risk feeders to reduce both the number of outages and the customers affected by them.

137,280 feet of OPGW fiber cable replaced to enable remote operations, protection devices, and the integration of smart technologies across the grid.

A new integrated Work Management System is being implemented to track upgrades and customer connections while providing real-time outage response — a first for The Bahamas.

Direct Public Benefits Already Visible

The positive impact of these upgrades is being felt by homes and businesses across New Providence:

49,000 homes in historically outage-prone areas are now experiencing far fewer interruptions.

16,000 homes have benefited from load-balancing efforts that improve power quality and extend the lifespan of home appliances.

Proactive patrols and maintenance on 70 circuit miles of high-risk areas are reducing potential storm damage before it occurs.

86% reduction in outages for customers downstream of IntelliRupters.

Six months into implementation, the Foundational Grid Upgrade Project is already delivering measurable reliability improvements, laying the groundwork for a more secure and sustainable energy system for New Providence.

About Us
Bahamas Grid Company (BGC), established through a public-private partnership, is a wires company that operates and manages the transmission and distribution system (T&D System) – i.e., the poles, wires and substations that distribute power – across the island of New Providence in The Bahamas.

Website: https://bahamasgrid.net/

By Ron Cheong

News Americas, TORONTO, Canada, Mon. Oct. 6, 2025: Guyana is navigating one of the most extraordinary moments in its modern history. With vast new oil discoveries transforming its economic outlook almost overnight, the country has embarked on an ambitious program of investment, social development, and national security. The stakes are high: how to turn a sudden torrent of resource wealth into durable, broad-based national advantage, while facing both external threats and internal challenges.

An artist’s impression of the New Demerara River Bridge commissioned on Sunday, October 5, 2025 in Guyana. (DPI image)

The September 1st general election, which returned the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) with a strong mandate, confirms that the majority of Guyanese want continuity in the government’s development strategy. For the first time in decades, the old patterns of strictly race-based voting gave way to a more issue-driven electorate. The PPP/C, traditionally rooted in the Indo-Guyanese community, won about 55% of the vote, in a country where that community makes up roughly 35% of the population. This widening base, alongside the emergence of the WIN party, reflects a population increasingly judging parties on their economic vision and ability to deliver.

Building the Foundations of Transformation

One of the most visible symbols of this transformation came on Sunday, when the long-awaited bridge over the Demerara River opened. This project, which will replace the aging floating bridge, stands as a centerpiece of Guyana’s broader infrastructure push. By improving connectivity between the capital and key economic zones, it promises to slash transport times, boost commerce, and integrate communities more closely into the national economy.

The bridge is only one part of a wider strategy. Drawing from both the National Development Strategy and the Low Carbon Development Strategy, Guyana is using oil revenues to accelerate investments in roads, ports, housing, hospitals, and schools. Social programs — from cash transfers to education initiatives – are designed not just to share the wealth, but to invest in long-term human capacity.

The government’s message is clear: this is not a squandered boom, but a carefully sequenced plan. Oil money is being directed into a sovereign wealth fund, with rules and oversight mechanisms to ensure spending is sustainable. The goal is to convert today’s windfall into tomorrow’s permanent uplift.

Defending Wealth, Protecting Sovereignty

Alongside these economic ambitions is a pressing reality: Guyana must protect its newfound wealth. Venezuela’s persistent claims on Guyana’s Essequibo region — and by extension, its offshore oil fields — have forced Georgetown to integrate defence directly into its development agenda.

Defence and economics are now inseparable. Offshore patrols, maritime security, and alliances with partners such as the United States are being reinforced to safeguard critical assets. But here too, Guyana is looking for models that combine urgency with nation-building. Drawing lessons from countries like Canada, it is exploring how defence contracts can be structured to build local industry, transfer skills, and expand domestic supply chains under firm civilian oversight.

Learning from Global Practice

Guyana’s situation is unique in scale and timing, but not without precedent. Canada’s use of public procurement to strengthen domestic industries during periods of expansion offers useful parallels. Guyana could, for example, phase local content requirements into mega-projects, ensuring that oil money not only builds roads and bridges, but also trains welders, engineers, and project managers who can sustain development long after the oil has peaked.

Workforce development is particularly urgent. Building technical colleges and apprenticeship schemes tied directly to major infrastructure and energy projects would ensure that young Guyanese gain the skills to participate in, and sustain, the transformation. The government has already begun linking housing construction and vocational training, a model that could expand across multiple sectors.

Sequencing and Capacity

The challenge is not lack of ambition, but the risk of overload. Oil revenues are flowing in at a speed few countries have experienced, and the temptation to spend rapidly is ever-present. The government has recognized the importance of sequencing – ensuring that procurement, project management, and oversight systems expand in step with new commitments. Independent fiscal oversight and phased project requirements are being emphasized to keep the sprint from turning chaotic.

In other words, Guyana is racing ahead – but trying to run its sprint like a marathon. That means pacing the rollout of projects, building institutional capacity alongside physical capacity, and resisting the pitfalls that have trapped other resource-rich nations.

The Promise Ahead

The victory on September 1st has given the PPP/C another five years to prove that this model can work. The opening of the Demerara bridge is both a milestone and a metaphor: a structure that connects communities and commerce, built with the revenues of a new era, and designed to last for generations.

Guyana’s path is not without risks. Venezuelan threats, the dangers of overspending, and the social strains of rapid change will test the government’s resolve. But the signs so far suggest that the country is taking the long view, guided by national strategies that balance development, sustainability, and sovereignty.

If Guyana can maintain that discipline, it may succeed where so many resource-rich nations have faltered. It may turn urgency into advantage — and transform an oil boom into a national renaissance.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Ron Cheong, born in Guyana, is a community activist and dedicated volunteer with an extensive international background in banking. Now residing in Toronto, Canada, he is a fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto.