East Berbice-Corentyne

East Berbice-Corentyne (Region 6) maintains Guyana's agricultural base while oil revenue transforms the economy around it. The region borders Suriname along the Corentyne River and hosts the country's second-highest crime rates after Georgetown—a pattern that reflects both population concentration and the tensions of economic change.

The agricultural economy here—rice, sugar, fishing—predated oil and persists independently of it. When 43.6% GDP growth in 2024 came from offshore production, East Berbice-Corentyne contributed through traditional sectors that neither boom nor bust with petroleum prices. This resilience comes with stagnation: the region's growth trails the national average because oil revenue hasn't yet transformed its infrastructure or opportunities.

The region's future depends on connectivity investments currently concentrated elsewhere. While the Demerara Harbor Bridge replacement improves Georgetown's access, East Berbice-Corentyne's connection to the capital remains via the existing road network. If oil wealth diversifies Guyana's economy—processing facilities, transport infrastructure, health and education investments—this region could benefit. If wealth concentrates in Region 4, agricultural regions like this one become relative losers in an absolute growth environment.