-Minister Rohee tells Prison Visiting Committees
MINISTER of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee on Saturday exhorted members of Prison Visiting Committees (PVCs) across the country to be more proactive in executing their duties as watchdogs of the Guyana Prison Service (GPS).
He was at the time speaking at the PVCs’ annual general meeting at the Grand Coastal Inn, Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara. PVC comprises civilians who perform the functions of general oversight of the GPS and is also an advisory body to the Home Affairs Ministry, in formulating interventions to strengthen and better manage the service.
He said that because of the dual nature of the prison (custodial and remedial), two types of human resources are necessary.
Similarly, prisoners themselves, make a contribution to the effectiveness of the system, because as they go through the process of reformation and successfully reintegrate into society, the profile of the prison as an institution is automatically enhanced.
He explained that the PVCs therefore, were not only established to ensure that the physical infrastructure of the prisons is maintained but rather they also have a duty to focus on the human aspect, which are the prisoners.
Regrettably he said, some of the PVCs are trying to abdicate their duties, one of the issues that forum specifically targeted.
“The government appreciates very much, the role and membership of Visiting Committees because of the fact that you are civilians that have come forward to give back something to your country,” Minister Rohee said.
He lamented that some PVCs have been delinquent in submitting their monthly reports, however, the Georgetown and Mazaruni prisons have been outstanding in this regard.
The minister explained that there is a rather outdated perception in society that people should keep their distance from the prison system because it deals with persons who have done damage to property, life or limb and should therefore be considered outcasts.
“We do not share that view, we believe that there are persons within the prisons, who can be rehabilitated and reformed and can return to society to play a productive role. Were we not to recognise that and consider every prisoner an outcast, then we would have been making a serious mistake in terms of our country’s human assets,” he said.
He stressed that this sense of “reasonableness and consciousness” must pervade the thinking of members of the PVCs. He added that the GPS is an integral part of the criminal justice system in which there is an enforcement side and a remedial side.
He said that though the GPS and the PVCs have an important role to play to ensure proper management of the prisons, the administration stands ready to play its role as well.
“This administration has no qualms in maintaining its hands-on posture in getting things done, since 1992 we have committed ourselves to this type of approach,” Minister Rohee said.
Director of Prisons, Dale Erskine urged the committees to be objective and critical in their appraisals and recommendations as they  will help to strengthen the administration of the GPS.
The forum which was held under the theme “Transforming our Prisoners, Changing the lives of Inmates” saw presentations by the various committees as they relate to work that was done as well as what needs to be done. (GINA)