“It is Really Hard Living In Guyana,” Says This Young Guyanese Woman

What is life like in Guyana on an average day for the ordinary Guyanese? Can you confidently say that you are making ends meet?

These are some of the questions for people living in Guyana. Based on what my Guyanese friends tell me, life is hard in Guyana, that is for the ordinary Guyanese. But my Guyanese friends don’t live in Guyana and therefore it is hard to think that they really know what life is like in Guyana.

In this video interview, a young Guyanese woman talks about life in Guyana. She touched on various issues, including the struggles to make ends meet, racial differences, and social issues.

Perhaps my Guyanese readers could help me understand, the real Guyana. I mean the real Guyana where ordinary Guyanese go to work, expect a decent wage and a decent quality of life. I am not doubting this young woman’s sincerity but- is life that bad in Guyana?

1. Guyana is very poor and ranks 164 out of 228 nations in human development.
2. There are multiple ethnic groups in Guyana. In 2013, over 7,000 people emigrated. Many people leave Guyana because of a lack of jobs. Some people felt that the previous President, David Granger favored his own ethnicity over others.
3. In 2017, Guyana’s unemployment rate was 12 percent. Many young Guyanese people are moving to large cities such as New York to secure work. In order to combat this, President Granger has raised funds to improve the national public university and increased teachers’ salaries.
4. Oil revenues from Guyana’s newfound oil should greatly improve the economy. Predictions determine that the overall economy should grow by 86 percent by 2020. The oil revenues should reach $631 million by the year 2024, according to the International Monetary Fund. Guyana has made a commitment to the Green State Development Strategy to improve the lives of all ethnicities.
5. The country wants to transition to nearly 100 percent renewable and clean energy sources for generating electricity by 2040. It hopes to create quality education, social protection, and low carbon development that is resilient. It also wants to implement more environmentally friendly practices.
6. Tourism is Guyana’s second-largest export sector. In 2018 alone, tourism led to the creation of 22,000 jobs. The Ministry of Business in Guyana predicts that tourism and travel will make up nearly 8 percent

Read about this woman who is transforming lives in her community.