Dear Editor,
The Orange Economy Consultation held on Thursday 18th June, 2026, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre represents an important milestone in Guyana’s ongoing effort to diversify its economy and build sustainable pathways for national development beyond the extractive industries and traditional sectors.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministries of Culture, Youth and Sport and Tourism, Industry and Commerce, signals a welcome recognition by Government that culture, creativity, tourism and intellectual property are not peripheral activities but legitimate economic sectors capable of generating employment, foreign exchange earnings and long-term national value.
Ministers Charles Ramson Jr., Susan Rodrigues, and Steven Jacobs presented compelling arguments for the importance of the sector and its place within Guyana’s future development agenda. Particularly noteworthy was Minister Ramson’s reminder that the development of the Orange Economy formed part of President Irfaan Ali’s pre-election vision, indicating that this initiative enjoys support at the highest levels of government.
Equally important was the contribution of Ruel Johnson, who outlined how the emerging Orange Economy framework aligns with the broader cultural policy that has been under development for several years. His presentation highlighted the reality that a successful Orange Economy cannot exist in isolation but must emerge from a coherent cultural policy that values creation, preservation, innovation and commercialization.
The consultation also demonstrated that work is already underway across several sectors. Presentations by practitioners and government representatives suggested that important groundwork has been laid in areas such as tourism, music, visual arts, fashion, heritage and creative enterprise.
However, while the consultation succeeded in generating enthusiasm and establishing broad objectives, it also highlighted several areas that deserve further examination as the process moves forward.
Perhaps the most significant issue was the structure of the consultation itself. Speakers were generally expected to provide overviews of their sectors within five-minute presentations. While understandable from a programme-management perspective, this timeframe proved inadequate for meaningful exploration of many of the issues confronting the creative industries.
If this consultation process is intended to guide policy through 2030, future engagements should consider more extensive opportunities for discussion, sector-specific workshops, written submissions and broader public participation. The Orange Economy will only succeed if the people expected to drive it feel genuinely involved in shaping its direction.
One of the central questions that remained largely unanswered was: How will individual cultural practitioners benefit from the formalization of the Orange Economy?
While Andrew Tyndall correctly identified business registration and compliance with the Guyana Revenue Authority and National Insurance Scheme as important first steps, practitioners also need a clearer roadmap. Artists, musicians, filmmakers, writers, designers and cultural entrepreneurs require practical guidance on what actions they should take today to position themselves to benefit from future opportunities.
How does a visual artist access new markets? How does a musician monetize intellectual property? How does a filmmaker secure financing? How does a fashion designer become export-ready? These are the types of questions future consultations should seek to address.
The experience of Jamaica offers valuable lessons in this regard.
Long before the term “Orange Economy” became fashionable, Jamaica recognized culture as an economic asset. Beginning shortly after Independence, successive governments invested in cultural institutions, intellectual property systems, music development, festival infrastructure and international cultural branding. Over several decades, they created a ecosystem that allowed talent to move from creation to commercialization.
Importantly, Jamaica’s success was not built solely upon talented individuals. It was built upon industry development. The country’s global reputation in music, for example, emerged because governments, educators, promoters, producers, broadcasters, intellectual property agencies and investors all played complementary roles in creating an enabling environment.
This lesson emerged repeatedly during the consultation. Natural talent alone is not enough. Talent flourishes when supported by strong institutions, training opportunities, financing mechanisms, market access and legal protections.
A second important theme was the need for broad-based skills development. Particularly within the music industry, several presenters emphasized that Guyana cannot build a globally competitive creative sector without investing in youth development and technical training. Successful creative economies require a pipeline of performers, technicians, producers, broadcasters and media managers, marketers, writers, educators and entrepreneurs.
A third and perhaps most urgent issue was the need to modernize Guyana’s intellectual property legislation. The current framework traces its roots to legislation developed in 1956, long before the emergence of the internet, social media, digital streaming platforms and artificial intelligence. Any serious effort to develop the Orange Economy must include a modern intellectual property regime capable of protecting creators and generating commensurate fines while facilitating innovation and commercial growth.
Another area deserving greater attention is measurement.
One of the most significant lessons from Jamaica’s experience is that what gets measured gets funded.
Jamaica invested heavily in mapping its cultural and creative industries, collecting data on employment, business activity, exports, intellectual property earnings and tourism impacts. This allowed policymakers to quantify the sector’s contribution and justify continued investment.
Guyana must do the same.
If we are serious about achieving the ambitions outlined for 2030, then comprehensive data collection, storage and archiving, and sector mapping, and the ability for retrieval must become priorities. We cannot effectively plan, invest or evaluate progress without understanding who our creators are, where they operate, how they earn income and what barriers they face.
The concept of “Brand Guyana” was also referenced throughout the discussions as a vehicle for international marketing. While this is important, it should be recognized that in many creative sectors international recognition is often built through individual excellence. The success of internationally recognized artists frequently creates pathways for wider recognition of a country’s creative community. National branding and individual achievement must therefore work hand in hand.
As Guyana embarks on this journey, we should not feel compelled to reinvent the wheel. Jamaica’s decades-long experience provides a valuable blueprint, demonstrating the importance of institutional support, intellectual property protection, talent development, international marketing and rigorous measurement.
At the same time, Guyana’s Orange Economy must ultimately reflect Guyana’s unique cultural landscape, demographics, traditions and opportunities.
The consultation at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre should therefore be viewed not as a conclusion but as the beginning of a national conversation. Future consultations must broaden participation, deepen discussion and provide clearer pathways for stakeholder engagement. The success of the Orange Economy will depend not only on government policy but on the collective contributions of artists, entrepreneurs, educators, investors, communities and citizens.
I commend the Government for taking this important first step and look forward to a more expansive and inclusive process as Guyana works toward building a vibrant, sustainable and globally competitive Orange Economy.
Yours faithfully,
Russel Lancaster
