Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Board Meets in March - What Businesses should know

The District Liquor Licensing Board will be meeting on Thursday, 19 March 2026 to consider issuing new intoxicating liquor licenses and transferring existing licenses. The deadline for filing applications for the March meeting was Thursday 19 February 2026 according to the Excise Notice published in the Official Gazette on 10 January 2026.

Those still interested will have to wait until the next sitting of the Board which will be in June 2026. However, if you would like to transfer an application to another person or another premises you still have can apply for those transfers up until 4 March 2026.

The owners, operators & investors of a business that requires a Liquor Licence, such as a Supermarket, Small Shop, Restaurant, Bar, Hotel or Member Club should mark the board meeting dates on their calendar, as these application types will be considered. Applications and the relevant fees must be submitted in duplicate to the GRA office near you.

Also, citizens who are interested in what is transpiring in your community as you can appear at the applications and object to an application if it affects your interests.

The Licencing Board although it may sound like a boardroom even is actually a court hearing which is held at three designated Magistrates Courts in Guyana’s 3 counties. Below you will find the Q1 and Q2 schedules for Liquor Licencing Applications:

Q1 2026

·         In Demerara these applications will be heard at Georgetown Magistrates’ Court #1 from 13:30hrs on 19 March 2026.

·         In Berbice these applications will be heard at New Amsterdam Magistrates’ Court from 13:00hrs on 19 March 2026.

·         In Essequibo these applications will be heard at Suddie Magistrates’ Court from 10:00hrs on 19 March 2026.

Q2 2026

·         In Demerara these applications will be heard at Georgetown Magistrates’ Court #1 from 13:30hrs on 25 June 2026.

·         In Berbice these applications will be heard at New Amsterdam Magistrates’ Court from 13:00hrs on 18 June 2026.

In Essequibo these applications will be heard at Suddie Magistrates’ Court from 10:00hrs on 18 June 2026.