Figueira lobbies for private investments in Reg. 10, backs industrialisation plans

Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) is uniquely positioned to become an industrial powerhouse in Guyana and Opposition Parliamentarian Jermaine Figueira has called on the private sector to increase investments there.

Figueira, during his contribution to the 2024 budget debates on Wednesday, said Region 10 and its capital town Linden, can contribute significantly to Guyana’s development because it is connected to eight of the country’s 10 administrative regions.

And if there are adequate investments in the region, he believes it can become a “commercial and heavy cargo transshipment” zone for Guyana.

So he said, “We invite the business community to come onboard and invest in the region.”

Earlier in January, President Dr. Irfaan Ali visited the region and said Region 10 will be positioned as a new hub for engineering, logistics and trading with increased traffic coming from the South, as far as Brazil.

Figueira backed these plans.

According to him, an industrial duty-free zone, container terminals, assembly plants and manufacturing facilities should be developed in the region. Figueira also lobbied for the government to regularise additional lands in the region, even as he commended the government for its work to develop new house lots and provide 1,000 houses to young professionals in the region.

He believes such ventures can be pursued through the 2024 National Budget, which is Guyana’s first trillion dollar budget.