HGP Nightly News – Explosive growth in Guyana’s maritime traffic is driving an urgent and comprehensive legal modernization effort, with Budget 2026 funding a critical overhaul to capitalize on the sector’s boom and rectify past institutional weaknesses.
Member of Parliament Thandi McAlister revealed that vessel traffic and port calls have surged by a staggering 67 percent between 2020 and 2025, a boom she attributes to the government’s strategic focus and consistent investment. This unprecedented increase has created a pressing need to replace outdated legal frameworks with robust, internationally compliant systems.
“This is not a mere exercise in cut and paste; it is a systematic procedure designed to transform international maritime obligations into clear and consistent national laws,” McAlister stated, detailing the drafting of a modern Port Authority Act by a team of legal experts. This new legislation is intended to guide the sector’s safe and sustainable expansion for decades to come.
The push for reform is framed as a corrective to a 2018 International Maritime Organisation (IMO) audit of the previous administration, which recorded 19 adverse findings citing weak institutional capacity and outdated systems. The current government has since invested heavily in foundational infrastructure, acquiring new pilot boats, constructing over 30 navigation markers, and strengthening hydrographic services, measures that have helped earn Guyana the honor of hosting two major Caribbean maritime conferences in 2026.
The connection is clear: booming traffic requires world-class governance. The 67 percent surge is not just a metric of success but a mandate for continued transformation, making the legal and institutional upgrades funded by Budget 2026 a direct response to the demands of a rapidly expanding economic gateway.
