President Irfaan Ali has fired warning shots to regional economies that continue to lock Guyanese products out of their markets, declaring that Guyana is becoming impatient and will have no other option but to return the favour.

Speaking at the launch of CAM Motors over the weekend, the President said Guyana continues to play a key role and contribute significantly to the region and regional development. However, he noted that the country is wary of regional economies “tiptoeing” around Guyanese products.

“And if there are economies in the region that will continue to lock our products out, we are going to break those locks open because we believe in reciprocity.  We are ready to break the locks because we know that we have contributed significantly to this region and we cannot only be a country, that is celebrated because of our potential, we have to be a country that is celebrated, because we have converted potential into opportunity,” the President said.

He made clear that the country is also open to partnerships with the regional private sector, and if those groups do not show up, Guyana will mount a serious challenge and compete with them.

“I say to my friends over in Trinidad, Jamaica, the DR and all across the Caribbean, we want you to invest with our local private sector in the Agro-processing industry, the manufacturing industry. We are going to build it, the best Agro-processing industry, will be built right here in Guyana, and it is going to be built in the next four years, if you are not going to be part of it, we will compete with you and we will beat you out of the market, I can assure that,” the President said.

The President said with the opening up of new markets in Cuba and Haiti on the cards, the Government will move to help the private sector tap into those markets.

Locally, he said there is vast expansion in various sectors including the hotel industry. He made a pitch to Jamaican business executive Adam Stuart, who is an executive of CAM Motors, to establish a Sandals branded hotel in Guyana in collaboration with the local private sector.

“And you will be doing your brand a great disservice if you don’t have the bold capacity that I know your brand carry to make the possible investment decision sandals could ever make and that decision is to work with our private sector as partners in creating sandals number one eco-destination all-inclusive resort here in Guyana,” the President challenged.

The Government has been encouraging regional companies to examine Guyana as their next hub for major business and service delivery.

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