The Government of Guyana is under growing scrutiny after a public advertisement appeared in local and Indian newspapers inviting nurses to work in Guyanese government hospitals, offering salaries of up to US$1,500 per month, along with free accommodation, meals, and transportation. The offer starkly contrasts with the approximate US$800 monthly salary paid to local nurses with the same qualifications and experience.
The recruitment is being done by Ansari Manpower Overseas Consultant, based in Delhi (India). The recruitment drive has ignited fierce criticism from health sector stakeholders and civil society, who say the move undercuts Guyanese professionals, many of whom are already leaving the country due to poor wages and working conditions.
Local nurses are represented by the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), which has long called for wage/salary reforms and fair treatment for healthcare workers. A senior public servant, speaking anonymously due to union protocol, said the government’s actions were “disrespectful and demoralizing,” especially at a time when many local nurses continue to serve under difficult conditions.
“There is no real shortage of qualified general nurses in Guyana,” the source said. “What we have is a shortage of political will to pay them properly. Many have migrated for better opportunities, but those who stay deserve far more. If local nurses were compensated fairly, this exodus could be slowed or even reversed.”
The issue has taken on broader dimensions, as the government’s foreign recruitment strategy appears heavily concentrated on Asian countries, particularly India and Bangladesh. Critics are questioning why little to no effort is made to engage skilled healthcare professionals from African Commonwealth nations that share Guyana’s colonial legacy and educational frameworks.
Political analyst Randy Gopaul told this publication that the move appears not only economically questionable but politically strategic.
“Under Guyanese law, Commonwealth citizens residing in the country for more than one year can vote in general, regional, and local elections,” Gopaul explained.
“Given the large-scale migration of Indo-Guyanese over the past two decades, this recruitment drive may serve a dual purpose: filling jobs and subtly expanding the government’s electoral base. It’s an example of ethnic engineering masked as labour market policy.”
Gopaul also questioned why African nations like Botswana, which once actively recruited Guyanese nurses and teachers during the 1990s, are now being overlooked.
“The Guyanese government is sending a dangerous message: that foreign workers—particularly from specific regions—are more valued than our own. That undermines national morale and creates tension in an already under-resourced healthcare system.”
The government’s foreign hiring practices and the stark pay disparity are poised to become a flashpoint in public debate. Civil society groups, health professionals, and union leaders are calling for transparency, fairness, and a renewed commitment to investing in Guyana’s own workforce.
