Stepped up security at prison

Prison officers at the Georgetown Prisons yesterday afternoon discovered a prisoner with a .38 revolver and eight matching rounds of ammunition in his possession, sparking an intense lockdown and search.

According to a police press release, the discovery was made at approximately 3 pm and the prison authorities called in the police and a search of the entire complex was conducted.

The discovery immediately raised fresh concerns about security at the facility and questions about how a gun and ammunition could get past prison security and end up in the hands of one inmate. Since the 2002 jail-break when five inmates made a bloody escape after seizing a firearm there have been intense concerns about security and there have been repeated breaches of security and other problems.
Several prisoners, the release further stated, were questioned yesterday and arrangements have been made to heighten security in and around the prisons.

Efforts to contact Prisons Director Dale Erskine about the matter were unsuccessful and when contacted at 8.14 pm at his home Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, declined to make a comment. “I’m sorry I’m not able to say anything,” Rohee said.

Shortly after the discovery was made the immediate area around the prisons was cordoned off and last night, barriers remained in place around the Camp Street prison. At the corners of Camp and Hadfield streets, D’Urban and John streets, Norton and Camp streets, George and Durban streets, and George and Bent streets, the barriers were in place.

A few of these were manned by a lone policeman. Residents walked freely across and apparently the major operations were completed.
Further, Stabroek News was informed by a reliable source from the Georgetown Public Hospital that shortly before 8 pm last evening a prison officer, Collin Johnson, was taken to the Accident and Emergency Unit for treatment.

This newspaper understands that the man received treatment for a wound on his right arm which he sustained while on duty. The prison officer was attacked by a prisoner amid the additional security measures applied to the prisons yesterday.

Just weeks ago, a prisoner, Edwin Niles was found at Camp Street with ammunition in his pocket after a cleaning assignment at GDF Headquarters, Camp Ayanganna. It was thought that he might have been part of a plot to break out of the prison. He was then subjected to intense questioning and was apparently severely beaten at the prison by prison officers.

He was then taken from Camp Street to the Brickdam Station and then to the Georgetown Hospital for treatment.
He passed away several days later at the Georgetown Hospital. A post-mortem examination determined that he had died of a blood clot caused by burns on his back. How he sustained the severe burns was never explained and he also had a fractured limb.
His family has contended that he was severely tortured. This matter is being investigated.

The 2002 jail-break occurred on Mashramani Day, February 23. With the launching of Carifesta here on August 22 sources say there are concerns that something could have been in the works for that day.

The 2002 jail-break led to the most intense and bloody crime spree in the country’s history.
It is unclear under what circumstances the gun and ammunition was found on the prisoner and if he was taken to police headquarters for questioning.