A total of seventeen (17) Prison Officers were dismissed from the job in 2022, according to the Acting Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot.

While addressing the opening of the Senior Prison Officers’ Conference this morning, Mr Elliot explained that the 17 Prison Officers were sacked for non-adherence to the Prison Service’s rules.

He said to compound the situation, the Prison Service lost an additional 31 officers in 2022 to retirement, resignations and death.

“There were 17 ranks who were dismissed from the organisation for non-adherence to prison rules, 7 officers retired, 20 resigned for greater employment opportunities, while three would have died while serving the organisation and one was relieved of duty on medical grounds,” the Acting Prison Director explained.

The Director of Prisons said the Prison Service currently has a complement of 510 officers, representing a shortage of some 91 officers.   

At the end of December 2022, the ratio of custodial officers to inmates stood at 1:13, with the prison having a population of 2,144 inmates.

Providing a security and operational outlook, Mr Elliot told the conference that security around and within the prison was generally satisfactory.

“During the period, the general security of the prison locations would be considered to be satisfactory. However, a total of 5 escapes would have occurred at various locations. Importantly, all of these persons were recaptured and are back in our custody. These escapes were mainly due to the inadequate physical infrastructure along with the policy infractions made by staff who would have led those breaches of security,” he explained.

But he also noted that the Prison Service is facing a number of other challenges, which includes severe overcrowding, shortage of staff, limited physical infrastructure for both staff and inmates, instances of inmate-to-inmate violence and the trafficking of contraband.

But with a Budget of $5.5B, he said the Prison Directorate took steps to support the Service’s Strategic Development Goals which include modernizing and securing the prison’s infrastructure, modernizing penal legislation, restructuring the Guyana Prison Service, enhancing Human Resource Management and Development and strengthening inter-agency collaboration in the Criminal Justice System.

As part of its development goals, the Prison Service channelled a percentage of its resources to enhance security infrastructure, health facility, agriculture development and accommodation.

“The Mazaruni Prison Phase 1 was completed and will house 220 prisoners. The Phase 2 of Mazaruni construction is ongoing and will be completed at the end of the year and will house 150 inmates. At Lusignan Prison, three buildings were completed, and will house over 900 prisoners, and another three structures will be completed within a few months. A new facility with be constructed for the female prison at Lusignan, which will see about 80 inmates being occupied there,” the Prison Director reported.  

In 2022, the Prison Service also constructed an access walkway at the Mazaruni Prison as well as a Prison headquarters and Command Centre. A security fence was also built at the Lusignan Prison and motion sensor devices installed.

It also completed its Agriculture Business Plan designed to have it achieve self-sufficiency within a period of five years. Significant emphasis was placed on education and training.

The Prison Administration also commenced the Fresh Start Programme, and for 2022, 10 inmates received tools and equipment to earn sustainable income in the fields of cosmetology, tailoring, welding, carpentry, joinery, landscaping and husbandry.

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