Nation Building Guyana Beyond 2030: A Conversation with Stanley Ming

A GBJ Blog Report Summary

The fifth edition of “Nation Building Guyana Beyond 2030” featured an in-depth conversation with prominent Guyanese entrepreneur and former parliamentarian Stanley Ming, hosted by Kojo Paris and Professor Terrence Blackman. The discussion, which took place on Father’s Day, provided valuable insights into Guyana’s development challenges and opportunities.

Ming opened the conversation by emphasizing that Guyana has been “studied to death” with hundreds of development plans already completed, including a comprehensive 1970 highway development plan that outlined what is now the Heroes Highway. He stressed that the country doesn’t need more studies but rather visionary leadership willing to implement existing plans regardless of their political origins. Drawing from his extensive collection of development documents, Ming demonstrated how successive governments have ignored or abandoned well-researched proposals simply due to partisan politics.

Throughout the discussion, Ming drew heavily from Lee Kuan Yew’s leadership principles, advocating for a development approach based on three pillars: meritocracy, pragmatism, and honesty. He noted that Singapore, with no natural resources and 300 times smaller than Guyana, achieved remarkable development through these principles. Ming emphasized that hiring should be based on competence rather than connections, that focus should be on what works regardless of ideology, and that absolute integrity must guide all dealings.

Ming identified Region 3 as crucial to Guyana’s future, describing it as eight times larger than Georgetown with superior elevation and agricultural potential. He warned that Georgetown faces flooding risks by 2030 due to rising sea levels and announced his plans to relocate his entire business operations to Region 3 by 2027. He also referenced a German government study from 2000-2003 that identified 1,300 square miles of developable land between Parika and Linden, larger than Trinidad, which remains largely unknown to most Guyanese.

Demonstrating his hands-on knowledge of infrastructure challenges, Ming explained Georgetown’s drainage problems in detail and offered concrete solutions. He showed photographs of clogged drainage systems and proposed that the city could be properly drained within six months using existing infrastructure if approached systematically. Ming emphasized that Georgetown doesn’t need new drains but rather proper maintenance of existing ones, starting with clearing outfalls and working systematically inward.

At 74, Ming argued that his generation must “get out of the way” of younger Guyanese who aren’t interested in rehashing historical grievances about race and politics. He emphasized the need to move beyond racial divisions, stating: “Until we stop seeing ourselves as black people and Indian people and become Guyanese, we ain’t going to go anywhere.” Ming shared concerns about young professionals leaving Guyana due to systemic barriers and the perception that success requires political connections rather than merit.

Ming’s business philosophy centers on merit-based hiring, noting that 70% of his managers are women who are selected purely based on competence. He described successful community outreach programs in Tiger Bay, where his company provided healthcare and education support that resulted in several students achieving top national rankings and attending prestigious schools. This work demonstrated his belief that talent exists across all communities when given proper opportunities.

The conversation revealed Ming’s extensive network of knowledge, describing how he maintains relationships with experts across various fields and continues learning daily. He shared examples of Guyanese professionals who have achieved international success, including those who worked on space programs and missile guidance systems, emphasizing the country’s human capital potential.

Ming concluded by committing to share his extensive collection of development studies and plans digitally, thereby making decades of research publicly available. He emphasized that Guyana represents a “five-year project” if approached with proper leadership and implementation focus, citing examples like the Philippines’ City of Dreams, where 5 million people were accommodated in a new city built in just five years.

His final message centered on unity: “One People, One Nation, One Destiny should not just be a saying, but a heartfelt ambition, starting from our leaders all the way down to our children.” The hosts committed to digitizing Ming’s research collection and making it publicly available through GBJ and partner organizations, ensuring this valuable knowledge becomes a national asset rather than remaining in private archives.

This conversation highlighted the critical gap between planning and implementation in Guyana’s development while providing a clear roadmap for moving forward based on existing knowledge and proven leadership principles.

Please see the program here.

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