Despite Guyana earning more than US$8 billion in oil revenues since first oil production in December 2019 and recording some of the highest economic growth rates in the world, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) says many young Guyanese remain unconvinced that the country’s unprecedented prosperity is improving their lives.
In a statement issued last Friday, the opposition coalition argued that a widening gap exists between Guyana’s booming oil economy and the realities confronting young people, who continue to grapple with rising living costs, housing unaffordability, stagnant earning power, and limited access to economic opportunities.
The concerns emerge against the backdrop of extraordinary national wealth. Since oil production began, government revenues have surged, public spending has reached historic levels, and major infrastructure projects have transformed parts of the country. Yet, according to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), approximately 58% of Guyana’s population lives in poverty, with 32% living in abject poverty. Local analysts believe the numbers to be much higher.
The statistics underscore a growing concern over who is benefiting from Guyana’s economic transformation and whether the country’s oil wealth is translating into improved living standards for ordinary Guyanese.
The issue is particularly significant given Guyana’s demographic profile. Approximately 70% of the country’s population is under the age of 35, making youth participation in the economy critical to the country’s future prosperity and social stability.
“Across the country, young people are voicing a common concern: while Guyana’s economy continues to record unprecedented growth and oil revenues continue to increase, many young citizens are feeling left behind,” APNU stated.
The coalition said the frustration stems from a stark contrast between what young people see and what they experience.
“They see the oil wealth in GDP growth metrics. They see the billions in revenues. They see the new buildings, hotels, roads and projects. They don’t see themselves,” the statement said.
According to APNU, many young people are increasingly concerned about rising food prices, escalating rents, unaffordable housing, wages that are failing to keep pace with inflation, and barriers to securing meaningful employment and career advancement.
The coalition pointed to what it described as a growing affordability crisis, particularly in housing.
Using rental estimates for Georgetown and other prime rental districts, APNU said a property renting for approximately G$100,000 per month in 2020 could now cost as much as G$228,000 monthly in 2026, representing a cumulative increase of more than 125%.
By comparison, wage growth has failed to keep pace, the coalition argued, leaving many young workers struggling to save, invest, or purchase homes.
For many young professionals and first-time workers, home ownership now appears increasingly out of reach.
“Why is the cost of living still so high? Why are housing and rents becoming unreachable?” APNU asked.
The coalition also said young people are questioning why access to well-paying jobs remains difficult despite Guyana’s economic boom.
“Why are good-paying jobs so difficult to access? Why do employers demand experience that young people have never had the opportunity to gain? Why are so many young people unable to access the benefits of the oil economy?” the statement said.
APNU argued that concerns extend beyond employment and wages.
Many young Guyanese, the coalition said, are asking whether sufficient opportunities exist for entrepreneurship, business ownership, skills development, access to contracts, and participation in the sectors benefiting most from oil-driven growth.
“The government is an unwilling youth development partner, lacking attentiveness and inclusiveness,” APNU stated.
The coalition said it rejects the notion that young people should be required to wait years before sharing in the country’s prosperity.
“The APNU Coalition rejects the idea that young people should wait another decade for opportunity while roads and bridges that fatten friends and a corrupt cabal get priority,” the statement said.
As part of its People-Centered Development Strategy (PCDS), APNU outlined a number of proposals aimed at addressing the concerns being raised by young people.
Among them is a commitment to increase the income tax-free threshold to G$400,000 per month, which the coalition said would significantly improve disposable income for workers and young professionals. APNU also dismissed President Irfaan Ali’s recently proposed G$200,000 threshold as inadequate.
Other proposals include a G$50,000 monthly stipend for students attending universities and technical institutions, expanded scholarship programmes, greater investment in vocational and technical training, and a national skills audit to align workforce training with labour market demands, including those in the oil and gas sector.
The coalition also pledged to strengthen local content policies, create more than 40,000 jobs through economic expansion and private-sector growth, and establish a National Youth Investment Fund to provide grants and low-interest financing to young entrepreneurs.
Housing reform also features prominently in APNU’s proposals. The coalition said it would lower the age for house lot applications from 21 to 18, implement a rent-to-own programme, provide rent and mortgage assistance, accelerate house lot allocations, and expand affordable housing opportunities for young professionals.
“Every young Guyanese should have a realistic pathway to owning a home,” APNU stated.
Beyond economics, the coalition said youth development must include greater investment in mental health, sports, culture, leadership development, entrepreneurship, and civic participation.
“From our interactions with youth, we constantly hear that the next generation not only wants jobs. They want ownership. They want businesses. They want investment opportunities. They want to build wealth,” the statement said.
As Guyana continues to experience unprecedented economic growth, APNU argued that the country’s future will depend largely on whether its young people become active participants in the nation’s prosperity or remain spectators to it.
“Guyana stands at a historic moment in its development that is shaping up to be at odds with the youth,” the coalition warned. “The decisions made today will determine whether the country’s wealth benefits a select few or whether it creates lasting prosperity for an entire generation of Guyanese.”
The coalition maintained that youth empowerment remains central to its vision for national development.
“The youth of Guyana deserve a future that matches the promise of this oil-rich nation,” APNU said.
