Dear Editor,
It must be a frightening concern to every Guyanese to see what is happening within the Guyana Prison Service and in the broader Disciplined Services. A few short months ago we learnt of the beating to death of prisoner, Edwin Niles, who succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital after receiving a severe beating and scalding at the hands of ranks of the Disciplined Services.
After much public outcry we saw two prison officers charged for the killing of this prisoner, and the investigation seem to have been completed. Shortly after this horrendous and cruel occurrence, Guyanese again witnessed the death of another prisoner at the Georgetown Prison, Nolan Noble.
The circumstances surrounding his death remain somewhat a mystery. Now, today, Guyanese are greeted with the unfortunate news of the death of yet another prisoner, only this time, the “field of death” has moved from the Georgetown Prison to the New Amsterdam Prison. The victim, prisoner, Cheddi Brijbilas of Mibicuri Village, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, died while in custody.
According to post-mortem reports, Brijbilas died from strangulation.
Brijbilas’ relatives recalled seeing him in good health a few days prior to Monday 6, October 2008, when they learnt of his death, from a prison officer. The obvious question now becomes: who strangled Cheddi Brijbilas to death? Will we hear that he did it himself, or that it was another prisoner? What ever the answer, this culture of “prisoners dying while in the protection of the state” is wholly unacceptable. It appears that the prison is as unsafe as the road.
The cancer of murder in the prison seems to be spreading throughout the three counties. As the Berbicians are grappling with this serious breach of human rights Guyanese must work to ensure that it does not reach Essequibo.
However, let us not forget, while all these prison killings are taking place Jones, Sumner, and others are still waiting on action to be taken regarding their allegations of torture allegedly commit-ted by members of the Disciplined Forces. Guyanese were told more than six months ago that the report is completed and that they will be privy to the findings, to date that report remains hidden.
President Jagdeo, and the government do not seem to regard the protection of human rights as a high priority. I believe that the government’s apparent unwillingness to forcefully demonstrate that it does not condone or sanction torture is likely to result in more of these unwarranted deaths of citizens. Those who are paid to serve and protect citizens will continue to operate under the belief that tacit consent is given for them to breach those inalienable rights guaranteed to us by the Guyana Consti-tution. I wish to emphasize, again, that torture is outlawed in every civilized society, the Guyana government has signed on to all those Human Rights Conventions which denounce and outlaw torture, I therefore, find it mind boggling that the government seems reluctant to address the issue frontally.
How long will those alleging torture by the Guyana Defence Force wait before they know the outcome of their situation, and how much longer will Guyanese have to wait before the Czar, Jagdeo, releases the torture report? What does he and the government have to hide?
How many more prisoners have to die in custody, how many more politicians, activists, and union leaders have to be threatened by phantom gangs before the government takes the issue of torture and human rights seriously?
Let us unite in one voice to end this kind of barbarism which pervades our prison system. Those guilty of torturing citizens must face the full extent of the law, and thorough investigations must be conducted to determine whether government officials actively or tacitly condone such brutal and inhuman acts.
My sincere sympathy goes out to the family of Cheddi Brjbilas.
Yours faithfully,
Lurlene Nestor
