An inmate of the Camp Street Prison was badly chopped yesterday morning with a cutlass by two other inmates and concerns are being raised again about how prisoners are gaining access to weapons.
The incident was also captured on cellphones and videoed in real time by other inmates.
The victim of the chopping is 29-year-old Tambico Mc Kenzie, of West Ruimveldt, George-town, who is currently on remand facing armed robbery charges.
He suffered several chops to his body and had to be initially treated by medical personnel at the Prison’s infirmary and was subsequently taken to the Georgetown Hospital for further treatment.
This newspaper understands that the man is currently in a stable condition and was being monitored while his attackers have been placed in solitary confinement pending charges for the assault.
Stabroek News was told that the incident stemmed from an altercation Mc Kenzie had with one of the men on Tuesday.
A prison officer yesterday expressed concerns over the security of prison staff given that Mc Kenzie’s attackers had the cutlass used in the incident hidden in the facility.
“I am worried because this is not the first time or 100th time inmates are found with dangerous weapons,” the officer said.
“These guys know to stash things in places and on their person that you won’t dream, can’t imagine that it would fit… when there is an impromptu raid we as wardens are left in shock.
Whatever is on the road and you want it they have it here.
I wouldn’t be surprised if one of them emerge one day with a gun,” the officer added.
The officer said that while the use of cell phones is prohibited it was in common use in the prisons and charges to speak with persons on the outside would range from “food to favours”.
The prison warden says that stricter measures are needed at the prison and this includes thorough monitoring of all personnel because some of them are lax.
“There needs to be stricter security measures taken even with staff because some of the things the guys have here where do you think they got them?” he asked.
