Human rights, anti-corruption safeguards, better public services key to Guyana’s development push – PM

Prime Minister (PM), Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips on Tuesday underscored the Government of Guyana’s intensified push to strengthen human rights protections, modernise governance systems, and enforce anti-corruption safeguards, declaring that national development “must involve both economic advancements and improvements in the quality of social life.”
Delivering the feature address at the opening of the Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Expo hosted by the Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Ministry, the PM said the Administration is fully aware of the gaps that remain in public service delivery, access to justice, and protections for vulnerable populations.
Phillips stressed that the Government has taken “critical” steps to address these concerns across multiple sectors.
“The People’s Progressive Party Civic Administration recognises how critical it is to address human rights concerns and ensure that sufficient measures are in place to take care of our people in this regard. Our Government has outlined several measures to strengthen respect for rights and improve public service delivery,” he said, adding that these include enacting stronger penalties for attempts to incite racial hostility, ensuring policies targeted at equal pay for equal work, expanding shelters and assistance for victims of domestic and gender-based violence, “introducing and enforcing anti-discrimination legislation, including measures related to sexual orientation, and strengthening the training of security forces through required modules in human rights and integrity.”
He added that these measures aim to reduce harms, support vulnerable groups, and create a more predictable and just system of public administration. “They also reflect our Government’s view that national development must involve both economic advancements and improvements in the quality of social life. Service quality is a recurring concern for citizens and is another consideration under this vast umbrella,” the PM went on to state.
He added that the Administration has also moved to strengthen security-sector training, noting, “We are strengthening the training of security forces through required modules in human rights and integrity.”
“People deserve clear information, reasonable timelines, and respectful treatment.”
Citing persistent concerns over service quality, the PM said the Government is deliberately reforming the way Guyanese interact with public institutions. “Service quality is a recurring concern for citizens,” he emphasised. “People deserve clear information, reasonable timelines, and respectful treatment.”
Among the planned interventions are the introduction of mandatory service standards, clearer procedural advisories, faster and more transparent digital interactions, and mandatory customer-service training for frontline public officers. Phillips said these reforms aim to “reduce frustration, improve predictability, and promote responsible conduct from those who serve the public.”
According to the PM, respect for rights is not abstract – it is essential to development and economic stability. “Human rights have a practical role in national progress,” he stated. “They influence how people live, how institutions operate, and how development outcomes are distributed.”
He stressed that when people can rely on fair treatment, non-discrimination, and clear avenues for redress, they are better able to participate in national life and contribute to long-term social stability. “The protection of rights supports social stability, which in turn promotes economic confidence and long-term planning,” he added.

Regional examples and cooperation
Highlighting the regional context, the PM noted that countries across the Caribbean have made advances in human rights enforcement, from Trinidad and Tobago’s Equal Opportunity Commission to Barbados’ child-protection reforms and Jamaica’s expanded access-to-information regime.
“These examples illustrate that rights frameworks and anti-corruption efforts are being strengthened across the Caribbean,” he said, emphasising that such progress often comes through legislative reform, public awareness, training, and cooperation.
He also argued strongly for deeper Caricom collaboration, noting that many governance, security, and rights challenges “cross national borders,” including trafficking in persons, cyber-enabled crime, and gaps in social-service delivery. Caricom, he said, provides the platform for shared strategies, joint training, harmonised legislation, and long-term policy development.
Phillips reaffirmed that the Government of Guyana is steadily building systems rooted in fairness and accountability. “Our Government has worked to modernise procurement practices, strengthen constitutional bodies, expand digital Government services, and increase opportunities for public participation,” he said.

A model for the Caribbean
Calling the Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Expo “the only one of its kind in the region,” Phillips said the growing annual event reflects Guyana’s commitment to transparency and public engagement. More than 40 agencies participated this year.
“This Expo demonstrates Guyana’s commitment to human rights and anti-corruption initiatives,” he said. “As we open this event for the fourth year, we are thankful for the opportunity for people to understand the work of the agencies represented here today and to raise questions or concerns directly with them.”
He urged Guyanese, from students to civil-society representatives, to make full use of the services and information on display. “Such events encourage transparency and help strengthen the connection between public institutions and the society they serve,” he added.