Prison officials mum on knife, cell phone in possession of prisoners

THERE has been no official word from the administration of the Guyana Prison Service with respect to the stabbing to death of an inmate by a fellow inmate at the Mazaruni Prison.The incident, which was sparked by the disappearance of a cell phone is also engaging the attention of the Guyana Police Force, which is trying to determine how the prisoner was able to get access to an item which is highly prohibited.
Yesterday the Chronicle newspaper was told by senior police sources that the incident escalated when the deceased, Theon Smith, went to retrieve the cell phone from it hiding place and could not find it.
He accused fellow inmate Akeem Edwards of removing the device and they got into an argument.
During the lunch break at the facility, Edwards armed himself with a knife and stabbed Smith several times. Smith was rushed to the Bartica Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Meanwhile repeated efforts by this publication to get a comment from the Deputy Director of Prisons were unsuccessful. The official said that he is not permitted to speak with the media.
On Sunday this publication received information of the incident and was able to confirm that both the deceased and the suspect were sent to the facility for multiple robbery under arms charges and were each serving three five-year sentences.

(By Leroy Smith)