Guyana on Friday commissioned a 3MW solar farm at Hampshire, Region Six—an achievement senior government officials say proves the country’s climate leadership is grounded not in rhetoric, but in action.Speaking at the ceremony, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, described the facility as “historic”, tying it directly to Guyana’s long-term vision of a diversified, low-carbon energy grid and its globally recognised climate financing model under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).“This project is part of a very important historic journey,” Dr Singh said, emphasising that the government’s push for sustainable, reliable energy is transforming communities while generating employment and strengthening partnerships at every level.Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips, delivering the feature address on behalf of President Irfaan Ali, said the commissioning is a strong signal—both to Guyanese and the international community—that the country is serious about reducing emissions and securing energy resilience.“If we do not fix energy, how can we fix the climate?” the Prime Minister asked. “Leadership is not what you claim. Leadership is what you do. Even as our forests perform the work of giants, we still invest, we still act. Climate change does not wait on anyone.”A Legacy of Climate LeadershipDr Singh used the occasion to reflect on Guyana’s pioneering role in global climate financing, recalling the landmark 2009 Guyana–Norway agreement championed by then President Bharrat Jagdeo. Under that deal, Norway pledged up to US$250 million for the protection of Guyana’s rainforest—the world’s first large-scale payment-for-forest-conservation model.“Guyana was providing climate services to the rest of the world free of charge,” Dr Singh said. “Former President Jagdeo articulated and developed this idea in an incredibly visionary way that had never been articulated anywhere else.”That vision is carried forward today under President Ali’s LCDS 2030, which is financing transformative projects like the GUYSOL utility-scale solar programme, under which eight solar farms are being built to add 33MWp of clean energy to the grid. Three of those—Hampshire, Prospect and Trafalgar—are located in Region Six.The US$83 million GUYSOL programme is funded entirely through the Guyana–Norway partnership and executed by Guyana Power and Light (GPL).Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni SinghLocal Jobs, Skills and InclusionThe solar initiative is also reshaping lives on the ground. Inter-American Development Bank Resident Representative, Lorena Solórzano Salazar, highlighted that 31 of the 50 persons trained in solar PV installation across Regions Two, Five, Six and Ten were women. Six persons living with disabilities were also trained and are now employed with GPL.“These projects are not only climate-smart—they are people-centred,” she said.Part of a Larger Transformation in BerbiceThe commissioning coincided with President Ali’s two-day Cabinet outreach to Region Six and forms part of a wider national effort to expand renewable energy, improve public services and prepare Berbice to become Guyana’s second industrial hub.Over the last five years, Region Six has seen major investments: the modern Number 75 Hospital is complete; new roads have been built; the New Amsterdam Hospital and Palmyra Stadium are under construction; call centres are creating new jobs; and preparations continue for two major bridges—one across the Berbice River and another across the Corentyne, in partnership with Suriname.Hundreds of Guyanese have also completed oil and gas training at the Guyana Technical Training College in Port Mourant, positioning the region to benefit from emerging industries.A Clear Path ForwardGovernment’s 2025 Manifesto commits to expanding the renewable push even further, including adding 100MW of new solar capacity and reviving the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project. It also reaffirms Guyana’s plan to promote the LCDS globally as a model for balancing economic growth with ecological stewardship, forest conservation and carbon credit financing.Friday’s ceremony was attended by Minister within the Housing Ministry Vanessa Benn and GPL’s Executive Management Leader, Kesh Nandlall.For government officials, the message was unmistakable: Guyana’s forests may anchor its global climate contribution—but its energy transition is powered by deliberate, decisive action.The post Guyana sends powerful signal on clean energy transition as 3MW solar farm comes online in Berbice appeared first on News Room Guyana.