President pledges ‘drastic’ overhaul of government on Day 1 of new term

President Irfaan Ali has said his administration will drastically restructure government once re-elected, promising a nimble, project-driven model that removes bureaucracy and harnesses technology to deliver on the ruling party’s ambitious targets for the next five years.

Ali, whose People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is seeking another term in September’s elections, said the changes would be implemented from “day one” of a new government. The overhaul, he said, would align state structures with large-scale industrial, infrastructure and social projects intended to transform the economy.

“Definitely the structure of government will change drastically,” Ali told the News Room’s Neil Marks in an interview to be aired Tuesday night.

“You will see a government that is very nimble, but a government that will be bringing in every level of skill that is required to achieve what we are setting ourselves by 2030.”

The president outlined plans to push value-added production in bauxite, forestry and other commodities, while advancing two industrial economic zones in Berbice and Wales to anchor manufacturing and agro-processing. He said mega-projects such as the planned Silica City development and an integrated national infrastructure programme would be accelerated under a new, efficient style of governance.

That approach, Ali explained, would temporarily draw together skilled teams to execute initiatives under strict timelines and performance indicators.

Ali said accountability, transparency and the removal of red tape will be central, supported by technology to reduce human bias and ensure service delivery. He added that investments in human capital would be necessary to strengthen state capacity, while major pushes were planned in data services, tourism, agriculture and renewable energy alongside two power plants at Wales.

“It’s going to be a high-paced, high-speed environment,” Ali said. “We will definitely be reorganizing the structure of government to meet this.”