A long road to travel, and a rough, rough way to go
TEN years ago today, Mrs. Roxanne Winfield, a former Guyana Prison Service (GFS) guard, was on gate duty at the Camp Street Prison when five notorious prisoners — Troy Dick, Shawn Brown, Andrew Douglas, Mark Fraser and Dale Moore – staged what later came to be called the 2002 Mash Day Jailbreak. She bravely resisted their order for her to open the gate to allow them illegal freedom, even after they had stabbed dead her colleague Troy Williams, 21; and for her defiance, she was shot and injured whilst the notorious five managed to escape.
Ever since that tragedy, life has not been easy for her. Winfield is blind in the left eye, and has a hole in the left side of her temple, where she was shot that fateful day. She was placed on a life support machine for several weeks, and underwent very delicate surgeries performed by local doctors as well as Neurologist Dr Richard Spann. Dr. Spann determined that the bullet entered Mrs. Winfield’s right cheek, exiting through the left ear, causing damage to the brain necessitating a removal of a portion of her brain.
She lost her husband, Mark Winfield, in December 2006, following a brief illness. She had been staying with her former sister-in-law, Alexis De Court, at Lot 83 Plum Park, Sophia, Georgetown, who had been taking care of her for some years.

Improvements
Today, Mrs. Roxanne Winfield’s health has improved somewhat, as she is able to communicate with the people around her, even though her speech is impaired. She is able to sit upright, if assisted, and often sings gospel and respond when spoken to.
She is still unable to walk, and is confined to a wheelchair; but that doesn’t prevent her from being her usual jovial self, still smiling and laughing with anyone who is up for a chat. Doctors have been able to achieve, much success in her recovery, even though she is left incapacitated.
This year, Roxanne Winfield is staying with her sister, Jacklin Gonsalves, at Lot 46 Section ‘A’, Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara, having moved there last May.
Winfield, 43, is still being supported by the Guyana Prison Service, from whom she still receives pampers and groceries. She recently visited the Camp Street Prison, and met with Director of Prisons, Dale Erskine.