THE Guyana Prison Service (GPS) has welcomed 21 new recruits into its system, all of whom successfully completed the Basic Recruit Training Course (BRTC), an eight-week programme, which was conducted at the Prison Training Center at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara.
The recruits, according to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report,  were drawn from the five prison locations in Guyana, and were exposed to basic prison lectures, impromptu speech delivery, armed and unarmed combats, human rights education, family life training, and basic English.

Delivering the charge, Minister of Home Affairs Mr. Clement Rohee said it is the policy of Government to provide training for all ranks of the disciplined services to enhance their capacity.
“Training at various levels is an ongoing exercise and an integral part of the capacity building and institutional strengthening of the organisations that form the disciplined services,” the minister said.
In this regard, Government makes provisions every year in the national budget to cater for ranks to be trained.
However, training programmes for the GPS have to be tailored to suit the functions that it is required to provide. These include: custodial duties, welfare, and rehabilitation responsibilities.  
Minister Rohee noted that the GPS Training Board has performed notably to ensure that suitable programmes are developed of which the BRTC is a part.  
Having completed the training programme, the recruits will be transferred to the various prison locations. The minister urged them to acquaint themselves with the peculiarities of the different prisons, since notwithstanding their similarities, there are significant differences at the various locations.
“It is important that you become aware of the conditions at each location in advance of your posting so as to facilitate an easier adaptation process,” he said.
The GPS plays an integral role within the country’s criminal justice system. The minister explained that after the court would have pronounced its ruling on a matter, the offender is kept under the custodial responsibilities of the prison and, at the same time, are given the proper orientation with respect to rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
He also reminded the recruits to ensure that the inalienable rights of the prisoners are not trampled during their period of incarceration.
“Law enforcement in the wider society has a number of challenges because you are operating within the full view of individuals. However, within the context of the prisons, it is taking place within the confines of the prison and anything that is happening away from the eyes of the general public, always comes under greater scrutiny,” Minister Rohee explained.
He added that efforts have to be made to reconcile the human rights of the prisoners with the type of governance that reflects a high degree of responsibility, professionalism, and awareness of what is expected by the wider society.
Recruits were also reminded of the GPS’s zero-tolerance policy with regards to persons smuggling unauthorised items into the prisons.
Director of Prisons Mr. Dale Erskine, in his remarks, said the administration of the GPS is happy to have the recruits on board and reminded that the prison environment is very complex and multi-dimensional in scope, where ranks are expected to execute their tasks in a very effective manner.
“To manage prison security is very challenging, since there are always inmates who would try to escape,” he said.
Erskine noted that too often, the difficulties that prison officers have had to overcome are shown little appreciation and respect from certain sections of the public, particularly some media entities.
The BRTC was coordinated by Assistant Superintendent of Prisons, Paul James, who, despite many difficulties, recorded an 86 percent pass rate, with David Dias from the New Amsterdam Prison being awarded the best recruit gaining 87 percent.