Assessing the Current State of Road Infrastructure Development in Guyana: Governance, Funding, and Institutional Challenges
Abstract:
Road
infrastructure is the backbone of Guyana’s socio-economic development, serving
as a critical enabler of trade, healthcare delivery, educational access, and
regional integration. Despite significant investments supported by oil revenues
and international donors, road projects in Guyana continue to face
inefficiencies, cost overruns, delays, and weak sustainability safeguards. This
paper critically assesses the current state of Guyana’s road infrastructure
with a specific focus on governance, funding allocation, institutional
capacity, and stakeholder engagement. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study
draws on surveys of 213 community representatives, 38 contractors, 12
suppliers, 41 engineers, 18 project managers, and 12 policymakers;
semi-structured interviews; and direct on-site observations across Georgetown,
East Bank Demerara, and East Coast Demerara. Findings indicate areas for
improvement in procurement processes, imbalances in resource allocation between
urban and rural areas, and delays associated with administrative procedures and
monitoring mechanisms. Stakeholder participation appears uneven, with
communities sometimes less involved in decision-making, and sustainability
safeguards are not yet consistently applied across projects. These insights
point to opportunities for strengthening institutional arrangements, refining
governance frameworks, and promoting more balanced funding mechanisms to
support equitable development. The paper contributes to both scholarship and
practice by presenting Guyana as a case study for infrastructure development in
small, resource-rich developing economies and offers practical recommendations
to enhance regulatory oversight, broaden participatory planning, and integrate
sustainability principles into infrastructure delivery.
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