Minister Indar: Imports triple since 2020 amid maritime sector boom

Imports into Guyana have risen threefold since 2020 amid a sharp expansion in the country’s maritime sector, Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar said Tuesday, as Guyana opened a two-day regional conference on port safety and security.
Indar told the Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding (CMOU) on Port State Control Conference, held at the AC Marriott Hotel in Ogle, that vessel traffic had grown 42% since 2020, citing figures from the maritime administration.
“That growth is strong and it will continue over the next two decades,” he said.
The conference, hosted for the second time in Guyana, brought together maritime and port state control stakeholders from across the Caribbean to strengthen regional cooperation on maritime safety and security.
Indar pointed to progress achieved by the CMOU over the past three decades, including improvements in inspection practices, technical training and capacity building for port state control officers across the region.
CMOU Chairman Michel Amafo said the body served not only as a mechanism for maritime safety and compliance, but as a pillar of collective security for the Caribbean.
“The strength of the CMOU has always been a spirit of cooperation and a shared commitment to excellence. By working together, we can continue to advance maritime safety, protect our marine environment and contribute to a resilient and sustainable maritime sector for the Caribbean region,” he told maritime professionals.
The forum highlighted that stronger integration with international systems and modern inspection practices have contributed to greater compliance with international conventions across member states.