Admitting that he’s not pleased with the present condition of the Mazaruni Prison, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn has called on inmates to be “more” patient and disciplined as works are ongoing to improve their living conditions.
“We don’t like the conditions you’re under but this is where we are at now and we are working to improve it. So I’m just asking for you all to be more patient, more disciplined and respect each other and the officers so that we could move ahead,” Benn told the inmates.
Benn headed a team to Region Seven on Sunday during which they visited the Mazaruni Prison to have a first-hand assessment of the condition of the facilities as well as completed and ongoing capital projects. He was accompanied by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mae Thomas; acting Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot and staff from the Ministry.
In a statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs said during the visit the team had a walkthrough of various projects.
The Mazaruni Prison was expanded at a cost of $4 billion in an effort to address the issue of overcrowding of prisons across the country.
Phase One of the expansion has since been completed and the new state-of-the-art building is expected to be operational soon. It will accommodate some 220 prisoners.
“This new prison will improve security, welfare and accommodation for prisoners. It will aid in adequately segregating prisoners based on their offence and length of sentence. The new facility is also in keeping with international best practices,” the statement quoted Elliott as saying.
The statement added that while the prison access way has been completed, a multi-million dollar water treatment plant with reservoir which was constructed to ensure that inmates and staff are provided with clean and safe water is at “practical” completion.
Works are still ongoing on Building Two of the Mazaruni Prison.
According to the statement, a number of projects were also highlighted for rehabilitation and construction at the facility.
They include the construction of a security fence and watch tower for building one, rehabilitation of the wharf, construction of a pen for 2,000 chickens and enclosure of the lower flats to living quarters.
The Ministry said the historic administration building at the Mazaruni Prison which was established in 1887 will also be rehabilitated in accordance with Chapter 20:03 of the National Trust Act 7 of 1972, to restore and preserve national heritage.
During the visit, the statement said Benn interacted with some of the inmates and assured them that the Government is “working hard” to improve the conditions. “I know it’s slow, and you are experiencing that slowness. However, what we want is for you all to, when you leave here, you should be sufficiently trained and disciplined. To have useful working lives back with your families, and we don’t want any of you coming back here for any reason”, Benn said, according to the statement.
He also told the inmates that he wants them to have “better ambition, vision and behaviour” to avoid arriving in these conditions. “We don’t want this for any of our people, so we are asking that you have a bit of patience while we work at the issues and the problem”, the statement quoted Benn as saying.
The team also visited the kitchen where they sampled meals served to the inmates. “They expressed their satisfaction with the quality of the meal and discussed an agricultural improvement plan,” the ministry said.
Additionally, they discussed expanding the livestock and vegetable farm at the facility since the produce available is insufficient for the number of inmates and officers, the statement added. “Currently, the Mazaruni Prison has a livestock farm where cows, sheep and chickens are reared for domestic use. There is also a vegetable farm, fruit orchard and bee keeping,” the statement said.
Impromptu visits were carried out to a number of other structures in the region including the Bartica Police Station and the Bartica Fire Station.
At the Bartica Police Station and the Bartica Fire Station, the statement said a number of areas were highlighted for repairs while a plot of land at Mongrippa Hill, opposite the Bartica Magistrate’s Court was earmarked for the decentralization of the Guyana Police Force Command Centre. “This is part of the Safe City to the Safe Country expansion project,” the ministry said.
Another plot of land was earmarked at Second Avenue, Bartica for the construction of Region Seven’s Headquarters.
