Rehabilitated inmates key to closing Guyana’s labour gap – Ramsaroop

Chief Investment Officer and Head of the Guyana Office for Investment, Peter Ramsaroop, says rehabilitated prisoners will be critical in addressing Guyana’s growing labour shortage as the country experiences unprecedented economic growth.
Addressing the Senior Prison Officers’ Conference 2026 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, I noted that the reality already reflects a strained workforce.
“We’re out of labour in Guyana. I have the same problem. I can’t find an electrician or a mason to do private work at my house. So, the more we can do to reform our system, whether it’s prevention, as the president talked about, or rehabilitation, how do we all fit, and why is it needed?” He used the example to underscore the urgent need for skilled workers.
He argued that the solution to said problem lies in rethinking the role of the correctional system. He explained that it must not be seen as a place of confinement but as one of workforce development. According to Ramroop, rehabilitation must be tied directly to national growth, ensuring inmates leave the system equipped to contribute meaningfully to society.
“If you can move somebody that came into the system because they did something wrong, and then you can move them out of the system to put them into something right, that’s an accomplishment and satisfaction that we all can look at and be proud of,” he told the officers.

Ramsaroop highlighted agriculture as a major opportunity, noting that Guyana is positioning itself to be the breadbasket of the Caribbean, capitalising on the billions spent annually on food imports across the regions. He encouraged both officers and inmates to think beyond their immediate roles and tap into the opportunities that are being made available.
“I don’t just want to speak to you in terms of what you’re doing in a physical job today. Think of your long term. What does your retirement look like in five years, 10 years from now? Start thinking through where the end would be. We need to feed $68 billion worth of food to the Caribbean. Why not start thinking about agriculture on your own? Much as in the prison system, which I know that you are doing. You are planting; you are developing your agro-processing,” he urged the listeners.
He further stressed that correctional facilities already have the workforce and structure needed to support large-scale initiatives. He highlighted that with the right investments such as the shade house initiative and training programmes, these institutions can become productive hubs aligned with the country’s development priorities.
Linking this to the broader national vision, Ramsaroop said Guyana’s rapid transformation demands participation from every sector.
“Guyana is progressing at a pace none of us probably thought of 10 years ago. I tell people, no matter what our dreams were, our grandparents’, our parents’, or yours, that you would have thought Guyana could turn out the way it is today. We would have never imagined it. But absolutely, we are seeing the development in real time. You know, from an increase in wages, an increase in accommodations for our, sorry, an increase of our accommodations for even the prisoners,” he noted, adding that citizens must now determine where they fit into that growth.
He also issued a direct challenge to officers to see their work as part of the larger mission of the nation. He encouraged persons present to play an active role in rehabilitation and reintegration.
With the labour demands expected to increase as the country continues to develop rapidly, Ramsaroop maintained that recidivism through training and employment is essential.
“We need at least three million people passing through Guyana. What does that mean? That means for the rate of development that we are having, we have to have more people. So, if we can keep the other folks out of prison by making sure they have new jobs and new training, which is what we are doing, that means we would have created our own extra workforce that is needed,” he said, pointing to the scale of growth and the corresponding need for a prepared workforce.
He urged officers not to overlook the opportunities unfolding in the country while cautioning that no one should be left behind, stressing that Guyana’s future prosperity depends on inclusive participation, including from those who are rehabilitated and ready to contribute.