Deputy Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels has been sent on six weeks leave in the wake of complaints by inmates following the deadly fire at the Georgetown Prison, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan announced yesterday.
Speaking at a press conference, Ramjattan said, “We think that [him going on leave] is a necessity as this stage.”
Pressed on what would have prompted the decision to send Samuels on leave, Ramjattan made it clear that it was not an “indictment on Samuels at all.”
He explained that during the meeting with the prisoners earlier in the day a number of them indicated a “couple of things about Mr Samuels and for both his interest and also the interest of the prison and my discretion, I indicated that it might be advisable at this stage.”
He also hinted that Samuels may have had accumulated leave and this may have had a bearing on the decision to send him on leave.
“In view of the fact that we are asking that these senior ranks take their annual leave rather than accumulate it all the time, it is… an opportune moment for him to go on leave,” he said.
Seventeen inmates died on Thursday morning when they became trapped after a fire was set by prisoners to highlight grievances, including lengthy remand stays, the general prison conditions and the food supplied.
Along with the 17 men, five other inmates sustained injuries and three were treated at the hospital. The 22 men were among 68 prisoners housed in the cell, where, according to reports, there was poor ventilation. This newspaper was told that there was a small vent near the bathroom area and a few more at the side near a door. However, they are heavily grilled, resulting in hardly any air entering.
A Commission of Inquiry has been set up to enquire into all the circumstances surrounding the death of the 17 men, including whether their deaths was as a result of the negligence, abandonment of duty, disregard of instructions, or inaction of the Prison Officers who were on duty.
‘I am sorry’
Meanwhile, Superinten-dent of Prisons Kevin Pilgrim yesterday extended sympathy to the relatives of the inmates who died at “a facility that I am responsible for as the officer in charge.”
In an emotional statement to the press, he emphasised that it is his mandate to preserve the life of every inmate under his care, as well as the prison officers who supervise those inmates. Pilgrim described what happened on Thursday as very unfortunate. “With that I am a bit old fashioned, but I first want to say on my behalf that I am sorry… I know saying sorry is not an excuse,” he said, adding that the Commission of Inquiry that is to be launched will see a detailed investigation as well as the police force which is doing the same.
“I don’t have to wait on an inquiry or an investigation to personally say sorry. Simply because of the fact that I am responsible for a prison location and the laws of Guyana would have stated clearly that as an officer in charge you have to be responsible for everyone under your charge,” he said.
Asked later when the bodies of the dead will be handed over to relatives, Pilgrim said that was up to the police. He said the police have to take the lead role in deciding whether post-mortem examinations will be performed and when those bodies are cleared for burial a request for release will be made.
Pilgrim said that in the event the relatives cannot handle the funeral arrangements, they can approach the prison authority. He said that the prison has provisions for such issues and that relatives simply have to make a request for assistance.
