Oil Wealth Surges, but Wages Lag: WIN Highlights Plight of Prison Officers

Guyana’s rapid transformation into one of the world’s fastest-growing oil economies continues to generate record revenues and global attention. According to reports, the country has earned more than US$8 billion in oil revenues since 2020, yet concerns persist that wages and living standards for ordinary workers have not kept pace with inflation or the country’s expanding wealth.

A 2025 report by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) estimates that 58 percent of Guyana’s population lives in poverty, with 32 percent in extreme poverty—figures that local analysts argue may be even higher when accounting for rising living costs and disparities between coastal and hinterland communities. Against this backdrop, questions are intensifying about who is truly benefiting from the country’s economic boom.

It is within this widening gap between national wealth and worker welfare that the opposition party We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) has raised concerns about conditions in the Guyana Prison Service. The party, which holds 16 seats in the 65-member National Assembly and is led by Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, says prison officers have come forward with longstanding grievances.

“Concerned prison officers have reached out to the Leader of the Opposition to highlight a longstanding issue that has gone unresolved for over ten years. Officers across Guyana are currently working shifts exceeding 12 hours under extremely challenging and dangerous conditions.”

According to WIN, officers face mounting pressure in facilities where inmate populations continue to grow, often without corresponding increases in staffing or resources.

“They are responsible for managing large inmate populations, many of whom are on remand for extended periods and are often frustrated, resulting in frequent threats and heightened tension within prison facilities.”

The party further claimed that in some cases, inmate numbers exceed 1,000, creating a significant imbalance between staff and prisoners.

“In some locations, inmate populations exceed one thousand, creating a serious imbalance between the number of officers and inmates that places staff at significant risk daily.”

Despite these conditions, WIN argues that compensation has not kept pace with the risks involved or the broader economic expansion.

“Despite the level of danger associated with their duties, these officers are being stifled from receiving any form of risk allowance.”

The issue of wages—particularly in the public sector—has become increasingly contentious, with critics pointing to stagnant earnings in contrast to rising prices for food, housing and transportation. In this case, WIN says it has seen documentation to support its claims.

“Picture below shows a gross payslip for an officer working for over 15 years without risk allowance.”

The party also highlighted the long-standing nature of the issue.

“A risk allowance was promised by the relevant authorities over a decade ago, yet to this day, that commitment remains unfulfilled.”

For many observers, the concerns raised by prison officers reflect a broader structural issue: that while Guyana’s economy is expanding rapidly, the benefits are not being evenly distributed across the workforce, particularly among frontline public servants.

WIN is now calling for urgent intervention by the government.

“The WIN movement calls on the Minister of Home Affairs to urgently address these matters and ensure the safety and fair treatment of our officers.”

The party framed the issue as emblematic of a wider disconnect between policy and lived reality.

“This is the reality of the ‘One Guyana’ they boast about, where those who protect us are left behind.”

No Official Response Yet

There has been no immediate response from the Ministry of Home Affairs or the Guyana Prison Service regarding the allegations. The claims, including those related to wages, working conditions and benefits, have not been independently verified.

A Growing Divide

As Guyana’s oil wealth continues to expand, the experiences of workers such as prison officers are likely to remain central to the national debate. The question increasingly being asked is whether economic growth alone is sufficient—or whether meaningful improvements in wages, working conditions, and social protection must follow to ensure that prosperity is broadly shared.