There are more Guyanese living outside of Guyana than inside it. Communities in New York, Toronto, London, and across the Caribbean maintain deep connections to their homeland — through family, property, business interests, and the hope of one day returning.
Many of these overseas Guyanese own property back home. A family house, an investment property, land that has been in the family for generations. And the vast majority of them have no insurance on it.
This is not because they are careless people. It is because nobody ever told them how to arrange it from abroad, or explained why it matters so much.
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A Guyanese family home — timber or concrete construction, typical Georgetown or interior neighbourhood. Warm, authentic photography. Not a stock image of a generic house.
Suggested image: A Guyanese family home — timber or concrete construction, typical Georgetown or interior neighbourhood. Warm, authentic photography. Not a stock image of a generic house.
The assumption that's costing diaspora Guyanese money
The most common assumption we hear from overseas Guyanese is that their property is somehow protected — either by their home insurance abroad, by a family member keeping an eye on the property, or simply by the belief that nothing bad will happen.
Let's address each of these:
Your home insurance in Canada, the USA, or the UK does not cover your property in Guyana. Full stop. Home insurance policies are territorial. They cover the property at the address listed in the policy and nothing else. Your Canadian home insurance has no relevance whatsoever to a property on the East Coast Demerara.
A family member watching the property is not insurance. We say this with genuine respect — your aunt who checks on the house twice a week cannot pay for a new roof if a tropical storm destroys it. She cannot replace your mother's furniture if there is a break-in. Family love is not the same as financial protection.
The belief that nothing will happen is not a risk management strategy. Guyana faces real environmental risks — flooding, tropical storms, fire risk in timber construction. These are not remote possibilities. They happen every year, all over the country.
"The flood came and took everything. We had no insurance. We thought we didn't need it. We were wrong. We lost fifteen years of rent income and had to rebuild from scratch."
The specific risks your Guyanese property faces
Guyana's climate and geography create specific property risks that are worth understanding:
Flooding
Large parts of Guyana's coastal plain sit below sea level and are protected by a system of seawalls, kokers, and pumping stations. When this system is overwhelmed — as happens during heavy rainfall or tidal events — flooding can be rapid and severe. Coastal and low-lying properties are particularly vulnerable.
Fire risk
Timber construction remains common in many parts of Guyana, particularly in older Georgetown properties and in the interior. Fire risk in these properties is significant, and in dense urban areas, fires can spread quickly from neighbouring properties.
Unoccupied property risk
Properties that are unoccupied for extended periods — which describes most diaspora-owned property — face elevated risks. Break-ins, squatting, gradual deterioration, and delayed response to damage are all more likely when no one is living in the property regularly.
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Flooded street in a Georgetown neighbourhood or a timber property showing weather damage. Authentic local photography that communicates real environmental risk without being alarmist.
Suggested image: Flooded street in a Georgetown neighbourhood or a timber property showing weather damage. Authentic local photography that communicates real environmental risk without being alarmist.
The good news: it's simpler than you think to fix
Here is the thing that most diaspora Guyanese do not realise: arranging property insurance in Guyana from abroad is not complicated. We have been doing it for clients in New York, Toronto, and London for years.
The process works like this:
- You contact us by email, WhatsApp, or our online form — from wherever you are in the world, at whatever time suits you
- You tell us about the property — address, construction type, approximate value, and whether it is occupied or empty
- We go to market and find the best available coverage at the best available price
- You confirm the cover and arrange payment — we can advise on the most convenient payment method for international clients
- Your policy is issued and sent to you digitally
That's it. No visit to Georgetown required. No complicated paperwork. We handle everything.
What about claims if something happens while you're abroad?
This is the question we get asked most often, and it is a completely valid concern. The answer is that we handle it on your behalf. When a claim occurs, you notify us — by WhatsApp, email, or phone — and we take it from there. We coordinate with the assessors and surveyors on the ground in Guyana. We manage the process with the insurer. We keep you updated throughout. You do not need to be in Guyana to have a claim handled properly.
What if I'm planning to return to Guyana?
Many returning residents leave arranging insurance until they arrive — which means there is a period of exposure between the time they start setting up the property and the time the policy is in place. We recommend starting the process at least four to six weeks before your planned return, so that cover is active from day one.
Returning residents also often need motor insurance, which we can arrange simultaneously. One call, one relationship, everything covered.