Young Guyanese living in ‘era of opportunity’ – Finance Minister Singh
Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Ashni Singh, says the current generation of Guyanese youth is living in “the era of opportunity”, as the country experiences unprecedented economic growth driven by its expanding oil and gas sector.
The minister made the remarks during a live taping of BBC World Questions, hosted by the BBC World Service in Georgetown, where panellists discussed the country’s economic transformation, governance, and opportunities for young people.
Responding to a question from a young audience member about why youth should build their future in Guyana rather than seek opportunities abroad, Dr Singh highlighted the government’s investments in education and job creation.
“This generation of young Guyanese is the most fortunate generation of all generations of Guyanese because you are literally living in the era of opportunity,” the finance minister said.
Dr Singh noted that the government has significantly expanded access to education, including restoring free tertiary education and providing additional incentives to encourage students to remain in the education system.
According to the minister, the administration led by President Irfaan Ali has ensured that education is free at all levels, while also introducing cash grants to support families with children attending school.
He explained that these measures are intended to equip young Guyanese with the skills needed to participate in the rapidly expanding economy.
Minister Singh also pointed to the growing number of employment and business opportunities now available in Guyana.
“There are more employment opportunities and more entrepreneurial opportunities available to young people than at any other time in our country’s history,” he stated.
The minister urged young Guyanese to take advantage of these opportunities and contribute to national development.
“I want to urge young Guyanese people to take advantage of those opportunities,” Singh said.
During the discussion, the finance minister also addressed questions about ethnic polarisation in Guyana’s politics, describing the country’s diversity as one of its greatest strengths.
“I consider Guyana’s diversity to be far more a strength than it is a weakness,” he said.
He emphasised that Guyanese from different backgrounds live, work and celebrate together, adding that the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic has made conscious efforts to build broad national support across ethnic groups.
The BBC forum brought together political leaders, private sector representatives and civil society voices to debate key national issues, including the cost of living, governance, foreign policy, and youth opportunities.
Moderated by BBC presenter Jonny Diamond, the event highlighted both the optimism surrounding Guyana’s rapid economic expansion and the ongoing national conversation about ensuring that the benefits of growth reach citizens across all regions and communities.