British Government to examine help for Guyana prison system under security reform programme

Quinn told reporters on Tuesday that he was pleased with the response of President David Granger and his Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan.

British Government to examine help for Guyana prison system under security reform programme
British High Commissioner to Guyana Greg Quinn has given the Guyana Government thumbs up for both its immediate and long term responses to the deadly Camp Street Prison unrest.
Quinn told reporters on Tuesday that he was pleased with the response of President David Granger and his Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan.
He said he was particularly satisfied with the Presidential Commission of Inquiry that was set up to investigate the incident that resulted in the deaths of 17 inmates following two days of fiery protests.
“I think they are doing a very good job in a very difficult circumstance,” he said.
The British Diplomat said it is clear that the level of violence that broke out was unexpected for everyone and believes setting up the CoI as the sensible thing to do.
“I think if something similar had happened in the UK you would have also had a Commission of Inquiry. so I think a Commission of Inquiry to try and find out the root causes and what can be done to ensure it doesn’t happen again, so it is a perfectly legitimate and perfectly sensible thing to do.”
The British High Commissioner said the UK is also discussing ways in which it can assist the Guyana Government in its security sector reform which would also encompass the prison system.
“I have had recent discussions on prisons subsequent to the deaths and the riot. I expect that the action plan on security sector reform and what we do going forward to be completed by the end of April and then we will look at putting in place the various recommendations which I know the commission will come up with,” he added.
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British High Commissioner Greg Quinn

As assistance continue to pour in from the diplomatic community, several Prison Officers will travel to the United States to attend the 18th Mock Prison Riot (MPR) to be held from May 1st to 4th, 2016.
Held every spring at the decommissioned West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville, West Virginia, the Mock Prison Riot features hands-on training and technology exposure to corrections, law enforcement, military, and public safety practitioners from around the world.

 

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