AS several high-profile activities approach including Guyana’s republic anniversary celebration and General and Regional Elections, the Joint Services are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that proper security arrangements are in place and there are no threats to citizens even from behind the walls of the Camp Street Prison in Georgetown.The Joint Services yesterday conducted a massive, in-depth search of the Camp Street jail in keeping with the security posture in the lead-up to these national events.

The search, which reportedly lasted for more than five hours, saw the lawmen coming up with items which were found within the prison walls and which are prohibited. Among those were mobile phones, small amounts of narcotics, sharp instruments and other objects.
The Chronicle was informed that the search saw the roof, flooring, cells, cupboards and other small pockets inside the prisons being combed very thoroughly by the Joint Service members.
Usually, searches are conducted at the facility not only in Georgetown but across the country. The searches are facilitated largely by the Guyana Police Force, assisted by members of the Prison Service.
However, the search yesterday morning saw the Guyana Defence Force participating. It was in February 2002 that Guyana witnessed a jailbreak which saw five dangerous, high-profile criminals shooting their way out of the Camp Street jail to their freedom.
During the incident, one male prison guard was stabbed to death, while a female guard was shot to the head and seriously injured. She has since been off the job since she is unable to work.
During the period the men were on the run, Guyana witnessed one of the worst crime sprees in the history of the country with criminals at large engaging in robberies, murders, carjackings, kidnapping and other criminal activities which resulted in one of the longest and most intense joint operations between the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force.

(By Leroy Smith)