Home Affairs ministry announces…
– will be relocated at the Lusignan prison
THE Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that, in keeping with the desire to place greater emphasis on correctional services within the prison system, it has directed that all young first offenders, between 18 and 21 years, particularly those charged with the possession of or trafficking in narcotics and who are on remand, be relocated at the Lusignan Prison on the East Coast of Demerara.

The Ministry, in a statement to the media, said the objective of this new arrangement is to avoid incarcerating young offenders with recidivists and hard core criminals. With that in mind, the Prison Department has removed all first offenders to Lusignan Prison. Formerly, young offenders who were remanded at Lusignan and elsewhere had to be taken to Georgetown to attend court.

The Chancellor of the Judiciary was subsequently approached and agreed to establish a Court at Lusignan to hear cases of first offenders only, as this would avoid transporting on a daily basis the young offenders from Lusignan to Georgetown for their cases to be heard.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said it is pleased with the notice by the Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary published in the Guyana Chronicle of Wednesday January 13, 2010, establishing a Courthouse at the building housing the Lusignan Prison Officers’ Sports Club.

Members of the National Commission on Law and Order, at a meeting of the Commission held on Wednesday January 13th 2010, applauded the positive approach by the Chancellor of the Judiciary.