The police have obtained a number of statements as they continue to investigate the cause of the July 12 fire at the Lusignan Prison during which a wooden building was destroyed, Commander of Region 4B Royston Andries-Junor confirmed.
Contacted for an update yesterday, Andries-Junor told Stabroek News that the investigation is not yet completed. “The investigation is still ongoing. We have collected some statements but the report is not completed as yet,” he said.
Upon completion, Andries-Junor noted that the case file will be forwarded for legal advice which will determine whether any charges will be laid against the alleged perpetrators.
At a press conference last Monday, Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels had disclosed that the names of eight inmates, who are deemed the masterminds of the unrest, were passed on to the police.
“There were some names that we received as it relates to persons who are deemed to be masterminds. Eight prisoners have been named. We are aware of who those prisoners are and the police have been furnished with that information,” Samuels had said.
Meanwhile, a separate investigation is ongoing into the assault of an inmate allegedly by four officers.
Samuels had previously stated that four officers were removed from the facility to facilitate the probe.
Yesterday, he noted that the officers are presently at home. Samuels said while they are scheduled to return to work this week, the findings of the investigation will determine what consequences they will face.
“That was actually their last working day for the period. So they have been home because of how they are working due to the Corona issue. So they are due to resume work this week but they will not be on actual duty. The investigation is still going on because as it is they are entitled to give their side of the story like the prisoners did. So coming out of that if there is a need for charges to be instituted then we will do so,” Samuels explained.
“An investigation is what will lead to or not to disciplinary action. It is based on the findings we will decide what steps will be taken,” he added.
During the unrest which started before 2pm Sunday, July 13, a number of prisoners allegedly set fire to a wooden building which housed approximately 185 to 190 prisoners. The building also housed the administrative office and kitchen. It was made of mostly wood and was in existence for a number of years.
During last week press conference, Samuels had announced that a preliminary investigation found that the seizure of contraband items, including marijuana, from an inmate and the assault of another by prison officers triggered the unrest.
Samuels had told the media that around 11.55 am on July 13, officer-in-charge of the Lusignan Prison, Senior Superintendent of Prisons Alexander Hopkinson informed him that a quantity of contraband items, comprising two parcels of marijuana, a bottle containing rum and a cellphone, were discovered.
Drought
“Yesterday (July 12th) it was clearly overheard that the prisoner said that there was a drought in the prison as it relates to the availability of contraband so I think that situation would have further propelled the desire for them to get their stuff… It was not a search that was conducted. It was an alert officer who observed a prisoner with a parcel and searched the prisoner and the discovery was made,” Samuels had said.
As a result, he said, the prisoner was escorted to Hopkinson’s office, where he was questioned.
At the same time, Samuels said there was a confrontation between two other prisoners and one of the prisoners was subsequently assaulted by an officer.
“Following that, the prisoner was escorted into the prison yard, where I am advised based on the investigation conducted so far, our findings… established that the prisoner was again assaulted…. It was reported that the inmate was kicked by one officer. And when he was escorted to the prison yard, he was again assaulted by four officers. This I am being told was as a result of his behaviour. At the time, it was very hostile and remarks he also made as it relates to killing officers,” Samuels related.
In keeping with the Standard Operating Procedures, Samuels said the information was communicated to the officer-in-charge and the “necessary” response was launched.
“The officer-in-charge and his team in their efforts to regain control met with a very hostile group of prisoners, a number of whom were breaking the building. The officer-in-charge was asked to return the items seized and persons will seek to calm down. The items were not returned and in light of the two circumstances at the time, it resulted in fire being set to the building,” Samuels further noted.
Despite the quick responses from the Guyana Fire Service and Joint Services, the fire quickly spread and destroyed all of the areas which accommodated prisoners.
Due to the prompt response of the Task Force and the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) standby unit which is usually at the facility, all 284 prisoners were safely evacuated.
A number of prisoners attempted to escape while 11 prisoners were injured. Those injured were all treated and sent back to the facility.
Always overcrowded
A total of 284 prisoners were displaced as a result of the fire.
Of the total, 156 inmates are being kept at the Holding Bay.
Prior to the fire, Samuels had said that the Holding Bay had 425 prisoners. The amount is now 581.
Twenty-seven of the dislocated prisoners were transferred to the Camp Street Prison, while 51 were sent to the Timehri Prison and another 50 to the Mazaruni Prison.
Following the fire at the Camp Street Prison in 2017, the holding facility was set up at Lusignan. It was initially separated into three sections – Holding bays 1, 2 and 3.
Recently, a fourth section was set up for searches, where the 156 inmates are being housed.
According to Samuels, the Holding Bay was always overcrowded. He said the recent incident just worsened the situation.
“A hundred and fifty six prisoners that were in the Lusignan prison were placed in the Holding Bay…..the Holding Bay was always overcrowded. The situation has just gotten worse,” Samuels said.
Overcrowding of the inmates in the Holding Bay raises concerns about their health, more so in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Samuels had recently disclosed that over 300 prisoners have been released as part of efforts to reduce the size of the inmate population in the overcrowded prisons across the country in wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
In early April, Samuels had told Stabroek News that the early release of inmates is part of an effort to address the issue of overcrowding in the facilities.
