Does not crime and punishment hold a permanent place in most societies?
Prison, jail, penitentiary, correctional centre, detention centre. The descriptions vary but whether modern prison or old “penal settlement,” for this piece the definition, largely (and loosely) has to do with ”a place, usually with legal status, where persons are detained or held in custody pending some court trial, or for serving sentences handed down by a Court of Law.”
The modern concepts of “penitentiary” and “correctional centres” envisage convicted persons being guided to reform as penitent contrite “convicts,” willing to pay their “debts” to society for wrong-doing and actually graduating as better citizens from a reformatory prison.
Let all the above suffice as a layman’s context within which to locate our own penal system, from the “Lot 12” Georgetown Prison to the long-term Mazaruni, to Timehri and other “Remand” Centres. I hear lots of remedial work goes on in some of our prisons but are they measuring up as “correctional penitentiaries”?
I hope he is not typical, but our poor Jimmy won’t agree that his Guyana Prison “helped” him in anyway. At least not to make him a responsible gentleman/citizen.
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Young Jimmy in jail
To cut to the chase, “Jimmy” was found guilty of possession of lots of marijuana in his Albouystown shack.
At twenty-three, he couldn’t afford a lawyer and his Linden-Soesdyke Highway supplier had abandoned him after the bust. In court, spectators laughed when he told the magistrate that “outsiders” usually “plant” things in Albouystown, a depressed but proud community which produced “no less than three Vice-Presidents for Guyana”, and that the late President Janet Jagan had favoured “Community Service” for marijuana offenders. Unimpressed, the lady magistrate sent Jimmy to Camp Street for two years- a reduced sentence, she explained. Then Jimmy’s education and experience began.
An older schoolmate of his was also incarcerated in the same cell-block for robbery. This ex-cop schoolmate/cell-mate saw to it that Jimmy escaped any sexual molestation after the first week. Then Jimmy experienced organized Camp Street Prison life.
Three wardens allegedly controlled two blocks, even when they were off-duty. Certain prisoners accessed better meals; they received cigarettes, some used cell phones to co-ordinate both legitimate and illegal businesses they left on the outside; others actually received medication opting not to go to the infirmary for reasons best known to themselves. The basic education for Jimmy during his first month was that “Camp Street” was an over-crowded “world” onto itself within those shabby walls. You were forced to make choices immediately.
Of course, Jimmy’s partner(s) explained to him that “is man who does set up system and run it.” Being translated, that meant that from the underpaid, vulnerable wardens to the civilians who worked for the “authorities,” to the fake Pastors—one was dismissed during Jimmy’s sojourn—to a few of the “good” folks at the gym, the CXC classes or the infirmary, the right price could fetch favours. (Note that as this is being written the rotten, officials of Jimmy’s stay, years ago, are no longer there).
Internal “intelligence”
Jimmy marvelled at the information and knowledge the Inside Underworld had. The “seniors” knew and predicted just who would be caught with cocaine at the airport, compliments of snitching; they told Jimmy about rogue cops who co-operated with both the corrupt and the Cocaine Bosses “outside.” (Jimmy even secured “recommendations” for his return to the streets).
Sadly, Jimmy did not avail himself of the few correctional, self-enhancement opportunities Lot 12 offered. He consciously committed to using his alternative education to gain “employment” with a body-guard/ security service outside, to position himself for a grand reward.
For “Jimmy” appreciated that in a corrupt kleptocracy of a society, where old time morals were long lost, the sky is the limit if one is willing to take calculated criminal risk.
Parents of the bandits
Reading of the banditry and other criminal activities in the sprawling squatter-settlement-turned-regularised-community that is Sophia in North-East Georgetown, I reflected on the parents of those who are, or would be, bandits.
Because I’m reading and hearing that many of the choke-robbers, snatchers and burglars are young men. Very young – thirteen to eighteen. Teenaged criminals are being “produced” to accompany the more matured, professional bandits. What a social tragedy!
School drop-outs, single-parent children, orphans, street-kids are great candidates for crime. But what about those who have one or both parents? Parents? I’m always concerned about this new unwanted phenomenon “single-parent” or untrained, inexperienced “parents”. Where are the “Responsible Parenthood” associations? (I ask the young journalists to pursue this issue for me.)
As obtained, allegedly, during the crime spree of a few years ago, I’m told that there are parents who actually turn a blind eye to their offspring’s criminality. These so-called parents benefit from the takings. They become receivers of stolen items. Of course, those types will plead “economic circumstances”. Poverty made their children bandits and poverty made them go along with it. What happens if all families shared that flawed reasoning?
When their children are shot by police or are incarcerated, they then shed crocodile tears and describe their sons as “loving”. Does poverty breed crime and child criminals? Old time, poor parents hardly tolerated errant children. Teachers were parents too. What went wrong?
Discuss…
Remarkable Sam
Have you ever found it interesting enough to study the status, role and personality of our long-serving Prime Minister, the Honourable Samuel Hinds?
Between 1985 and 1992 there were all sorts of “movements” and organisations dedicated to the removal of the PNC autocracy and to the “return to democracy”. Samuel Hinds, a senior “scientist” with the Bauxite Company, joined the “movement” for free and fair elections. But that removal really only happened with the intervention of the Americans. Enter the Civic component PPP/Civic Candidate Samuel Hinds in October ’92 free-and-fair elections. Now enter Prime Minister Samuel Hinds.
Do you realise that Sam has a bit of an international record as serving continually as a Prime Minister for twenty-one years? Except for a few months when he was actually President?
The Mahaica-Mahaicony–Linden gentleman-“politician” has always seemed to be a reluctant political player. He has to have the thickest skin around. How has he coped with those PPP-types around him? How has he survived after his idol Cheddi J? I regret the comments about him I often hear from the more (activist), pro-“African” Guyanese.
He has often had to shoulder “front-line” firing squad–like responsibilities when the PPP government and political hierarchy wreck things. What are his rewards? It is time to study Sam! Agreed?
Ponder…
What?! The Americans don’t trust our police? Why?
The Constitution of Guyana claims that the Public Procurement Commission must be “independent”. The government claims it must be significantly represented on the Commission because it is the entity providing the (taxpayers’) money. Discuss…
How is the case of sexual assault against many boys against the Islamic teacher from Sophia, coming along?
‘Til next week
(comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
