A MAJOR fire was averted at the solitary block at the New Amsterdam Prison yesterday after an inmate felt he had been in the ‘strong block’ for far too long.

Prison officials were alerted to the blaze that consumed the mattress in the cell occupied by murder accused, Marlon Fordyce, of D’Andrade Street, Newtown, Kitty,and Number 79 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.
However, a quick response from the Guyana Fire Service contained the blaze, which also scorched the cell’s flooring, but no other damage was reported.
According to reports, at 12:15hrs, the prisoner had moments earlier returned to his cell after lunch with a lighted wick, which was collected from another prisoner.
The prisoner, after reportedly lighting a cigarette, deliberately left the lighted wick on the mattress, resulting in the blaze that forced Berbice Divisional Commanders [Police] Brian Joseph and Compton Sparman [Fire], and Crime Chief (ag.) Assistant Superintendant of Police Gary Mc Allister, along with other ranks, to rush to the scene.
The two fire tenders which were dispatched to the Penitentiary Walk location, in New Amsterdam, managed to control the fire.
All prisoners have been accounted for, and the investigations are continuing.

(Jeune Bailey-Vankeric)