Dear Editor
Director of Prisons (ag), Nicklon Elliot, reported at the Guyana Prison Services Annual Conference that there has been an increase in the prison population, and about the expansion of the prison infrastructure. (Newsroom Prison population increases by 13%, 16 March, 2023). The GPS Officers probably do not have a mandate to discuss about whether the need in Guyana is for more prison infrastructure, or for some serious work to prevent the crime and violence which has people ending up in prison. And there are probably many more persons who have committed crimes who have not come into the justice system (as yet).
The increase in prisoners corresponds to an increase in the promises of development of increased oil and gas production. There is no sense in Guyana that the political parties are keen to invest in institutions and systems to reduce the prison population in Guyana. More road infrastructure seems to lead to more road deaths and injuries rather than less. There are more vacancies for oil and gas workers than for the health care and other workers, and citizens are going to get more money to take out oil rather than to work in health or social services.
Other countries, some oil producing, and some not oil producing, seem to be closing prisons and working on different ways of dealing with crimes without causing further harm in the community. Maybe some of the oil money would be used to vision how to work on ways of reducing the crime rate and the prison population in Guyana.
Sincerely,
Vidyaratha Kissoon