Budget 2026: $100.3B to tighten security net with new stations, Safe Country cameras and upgraded prisons
The government plans to deepen its public safety push in 2026, earmarking $100.3 billion for a more modern, technology-driven security sector, expanding police infrastructure, rolling out additional surveillance, upgrading prisons, and strengthening firefighting capacity nationwide.
In outlining the plans for 2026, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, said the administration has spent the last five years building a more robust security framework through upgraded facilities, modern equipment, enhanced training, improved investigative and forensic capabilities, and modernised ICT to support intelligence-led operations.
For the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Singh said the government is pursuing “intelligence-driven, technology-based, citizen-friendly policing” aimed at boosting public confidence and ensuring an environment where residents and businesses can operate without fear.
He reported that $4.7 billion was spent in 2025 to advance construction and upgrades of critical security infrastructure, including the completion of 10 police stations, boat houses and living quarters.
In 2026, the government has budgeted $3.6 billion to further strengthen police infrastructure, including $1.2 billion to advance construction of the Brickdam Police Station and $475.7 million to complete 11 additional police stations at Anna Regina, Bonasika, Leguan, Alberttown, Beterverwagting, East La Penitence, Sisters, Orealla, Ituni, Kwakwani and Mabura.
A further $139.8 million is allocated to advance works on a modern police training academy campus at Dora. Dr. Singh said mobility and visibility will also be boosted, noting that the force has been expanding its transport assets since 2020 and incorporated the use of 5,000 body cameras in 2025 to enhance service delivery and provide audio and video evidence for criminal, civil and traffic matters.
He said $900 million is budgeted in 2026 to further expand transport capabilities, alongside plans to design an automated fleet management system to improve responsiveness.
On surveillance and investigative capacity, the Senior Finance Minister said $5 billion is earmarked in 2026 to continue the Safe Country Initiative, after $6.2 billion was spent in 2025.
He reported that 781 Intelligent Video Surveillance (IVS) sites have already been completed in priority areas in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10, which he said have been useful for detecting criminal acts and improving safety.
Community policing is also set to expand, with $245.8 million budgeted in 2026 after $182.6 million was spent in 2025, including the formation of 40 new groups. The government also budgeted $250 million for the training of 5,000 ranks in 2026, following $240 million expended in 2025 to train nearly 4,000 ranks, while moving toward more merit-based performance assessments to strengthen supervision and accountability.
Overall, Dr. Singh said $36.2 billion is budgeted to support the activities of the GPF in 2026.
For the Guyana Prison Service (GPS), Singh said the government is continuing a comprehensive transformation of the prison system into a modern correctional institution through infrastructural upgrades and consolidation of facilities to strengthen security.
He reported that in 2025 government completed the Lusignan prison headquarters along with a cell block, a female prison and a fire suppression system, and upgraded facilities at Mazaruni and New Amsterdam prisons. A total of $2.1 billion was spent in 2025, while $1.5 billion has been allocated for 2026 to further prison infrastructure upgrades.
Dr. Singh said inmate rehabilitation and reintegration remain priorities, with vocational and behavioural programmes continuing. He reported that more than 1,300 inmates have been trained in areas such as block-making and carpentry, while 361 officers were trained in prison management practices.
For 2026, the government plans advanced prison management and human rights training for 400 officers and skills training for 1,500 inmates, supported by $141.8 million. A total of $6 billion is earmarked for the GPS in 2026.
Dr. Singh said the government has been making “unprecedented investments” to strengthen national firefighting capacity and reduce losses from fires. In 2025, five new fire stations were completed at Charity, Parika, Diamond, Soesdyke and Wisroc.
For 2026, the government plans to complete and commission seven additional stations at Onderneeming, Campbellville, Ruimveldt, Timehri, Mahaicony and Trafalgar, alongside construction of the Rosignol and No. 38 Village fire stations and a Marine Fire Station in Port Georgetown. A total of $1.1 billion is budgeted for these and other infrastructure initiatives.
On equipment, Singh said $1.6 billion is earmarked in 2026 to procure additional firefighting assets, including two airport firefighting vehicles, four water tenders and two water bowsers. He also noted that procurement advanced in 2025 for more than 430 fire hydrants, with a further $250 million budgeted in 2026 to procure additional hydrants. Training allocations include $50 million for basic and advanced firefighting techniques.
Overall, Singh said $6.3 billion is earmarked for the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) in 2026.
Minister Singh reported that $94.6 billion was expended in the security sector in 2025, and said the $100.3 billion earmarked for 2026 is intended to further build out a modern, well-equipped, technology-driven security sector, as the government advances its wider development programme under Budget 2026.
