Opposition Member of Parliament Sherod Duncan is calling for closer scrutiny of government spending on the Guyana Prison Service (GPS), arguing that the 2026 national budget places too much emphasis on infrastructure over rehabilitation.
In a statement, Duncan said the 2026 $1.558 trillion fiscal plan must now be judged by its implementation, noting that “a national budget is more than just a collection of figures; it is the definitive statement of a government’s vision and its true intentions.”
He stressed that with the country now in the execution phase of the budget, there must be strong oversight to ensure that commitments made in the National Assembly translate into meaningful outcomes for citizens.
Turning to the prison system, Duncan referenced the government’s stated goal of promoting “rehabilitation and integration,” but questioned whether current allocations support that objective.
While government has pointed to a 14 per cent recidivism rate as a sign of progress, Duncan argued that the 2026 budget indicators suggest a disproportionate focus on expanding prison infrastructure rather than investing in programmes aimed at reforming inmates.
He highlighted the $1.5 billion capital allocation for prison infrastructure, including works at the New Amsterdam and Mazaruni facilities, noting that while these projects are framed as aligning with international standards such as the Nelson Mandela Rules, there must be accountability in how the funds are spent.
Duncan warned against potential construction delays and cost overruns, while also raising concerns about the comparatively smaller allocation for initiatives such as the “Fresh Start” toolkits and vocational training programmes.
According to the MP, a rehabilitation-focused prison system cannot be achieved if investment in human development—such as inmate reform and staff training—continues to lag behind infrastructure spending.
“A ‘rehabilitation-first’ vision is a noble intention, but it cannot be achieved if the ‘human capital’ side of the ledger, the training of our officers and the actual reform of inmates, is consistently outpaced by the pouring of concrete.
We are now in the period where promises must become performance. If the government’s vision is truly for a modern, rehabilitative justice system, then the implementation of this trillion-dollar budget must reflect that balance, rather than just building more walls,” the MP concluded.
