Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn has expressed concern at the “unsatisfactory” conditions at the Lusignan prison and has said that improvements will be done.
Benn made an impromptu visit to the problem-plagued prison yesterday, according to a release from the Guyana Prison Service.
The prison has been the scene of riotous behaviour, murders and a major fire in recent years.
According to the release, high on the agenda will be the construction of additional areas so that social distancing can be practiced, and better supervision and management of the prisoners will be possible. The Prison Directorate and engineers were also mandated to detail development plans for the Lusignan location.
The release said that the Minister also visited the kitchen area and the livestock sections and was provided with some insight into what can be achieved if requests for additional land and other resources are granted.
He was also brought up to date on the current status of court hearings at the various levels – Magisterial, High Court and Court of Appeal.
Inmates, the release said, made some representations on accommodation, court hearings, legal assistance, food, familial visits, recreational opportunities and counselling services.
“The Minister expressed his concern that the conditions he observed were very unsatisfactory. With this the Prison Directorate concurs”, the release said.
It said that Benn committed to working with all concerned to “bring measurable improvements, not only to Lusignan, but also to the Georgetown, Mazaruni, New Amsterdam and Timehri Prisons on a timely basis.
“This will be pursued to ensure better public safety, a more secure environment for the prison population, improved rehabilitation, and safer and less stressful working conditions for the prison officers and staff”.
Benn saw firsthand the Holding Bay, the burnt Lusignan Prison, and the COVID-19 isolation facility.
The minister was accompanied by the Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, Assistant Director of Prisons, Kevin Pilgrim and other Senior Officers of the Guyana Prison Service. Engineers from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Guyana Prison Service, as well as other staff from the Ministry, comprised the team.
