Plans to construct a four-storey building as part of the expansion of the Mazaruni Prison had to be scrapped owing to water availability and fire hazard concerns, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan said last month.
In July last year, the minister adverted to government’s plan to begin phased construction of the structure in 2018. However, it was only while being quizzed on the 2019 budgetary allocations for his ministry, that he disclosed that those plans have changed.
Included in the $1.4 billion that was allocated for prisons was $709 million for the expansion of the Mazaruni Prison as well as $77 million for a consultancy.