The potential for growth in Guyana is constrained by, among other factors, a deficient infrastructure, the lack of human resources as a result of years of heavy emigration, an ambiguous investment atmosphere, a heavy debt burden, and lack of available local capital. Progress has been made in addressing some these problems, most notably the debt burden and the infrastructure deficiencies. The other areas continue to present real difficulties with little perceptible improvement. Doing business in Guyana is challenging. Legislation and regulations are often antiquated and many laws are being rewritten, creating confusion and uncertainty in the short term.
Bureaucratic procedures are cumbersome and time-consuming.
Decisionmaking is centralized and businessmen, both Guyanese and foreign, say it is often difficult to know who the decisionmakers are on a given issue or what the rationale was for decisions made. One of the biggest obstacles in establishing a business is navigating land deeds and title registries. Getting clear title to land is one of the most frequent administrative difficulties for prospective businesses. Some of these problems may be mitigated with the enactment of the promised investment code. Some segments of the government and private sector are making efforts to improve the business climate, but those who seek to tap into Guyana's vast potential should be prepared for bureaucratic and infrastructure challenges.