Guyana’s Prime Minister Mark Phillips has warned that safety will remain a non-negotiable pillar of the country’s growing energy sector, saying the industry “does not forgive negligence” and the country will not sacrifice worker safety for production gains.
He made the remarks on April 28 at the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning’s Occupational Safety and Health Symposium at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.
“The energy industry does not forgive negligence, nor does it tolerate complacency. The offshore environment operates at the edge of human engineering and natural forces. The standards demanded by our international partners, the global oil and gas sector, and the regulatory frameworks we have adopted are rigorous and deliberately so,” PM Phillips said.
Offshore worker safety should be seen as an investment, not a cost — MODEC | OilNOW
The Prime Minister said Guyana has strengthened its occupational safety systems in response to the rising workforce demands across construction, marine, engineering and services linked to offshore development.
He said the country has trained a new cadre of safety professionals and continues to align its frameworks with international standards.
“The discovery and development of our offshore oil and gas resources has ushered in an extraordinary pace of economic transformation… We have trained a new generation of Guyanese safety professionals. We have insisted that every individual must meet the highest internationally recognized standards of worker protection. We will not trade safety for speed because the value of human life is paramount in everything we do,” he said.
Phillips also pointed to the psychological demands placed on workers in high-pressure industries, particularly those in offshore rotations who spend long periods away from family while working in hazardous conditions.
He said psychosocial risks such as stress, burnout and workplace pressure must be treated with the same seriousness as physical hazards, noting their direct link to workplace incidents and performance.
The Prime Minister urged employers to strengthen workplace systems that allow workers to report concerns without fear and to ensure clear roles, fair processes and supportive supervision across all sectors.
“Good psychosocial working environments are built on policy and leadership at every level… And the best part is that these actions are all achievable organizational behaviours that directly reduce incidents, improve productivity, and retain the skilled talent that Guyana desperately needs to sustain its growth,” PM Phillips added.
Guyana’s oil operations occur at the ExxonMobil-operated Stabroek Block. Employment in the industry has grown to thousands of workers across operations, logistics, engineering and support services tied to oil production. Oil output from the Stabroek Block is averaging about 918,000 barrels per day as of early 2026.
