– 11 young mothers to be freed from jail tomorrow

ELEVEN mothers who are in prison for minor offences will be home for the Christmas, following a decision by President David Granger to pardon them.

The President made the announcement on the interview programme “The Public Interest”, which is produced by his office and aired on public television.

The announcement comes approximately seven months after he had pardoned 60 young persons.

In creating a tradition of his own, President Granger said that, every year, around the Christmas Season, young female prisoners who are mothers will receive presidential pardons, starting with this Christmas. The 11 mothers have been identified and are expected to be released tomorrow.

President Granger: “I don’t see why a 19-year-old should be sentenced to 14 months in prison for stealing a cell phone. I know there are other factors, but I intend to do this every Christmas for young mothers and every Independence Day for young persons.”

It was explained that those who have been, and will be, pardoned are offenders who would have been sentenced for non-violent offences or minor misdemeanors that do not involve trafficking in persons and trafficking in narcotics.
“In a way, this is an act of compassion,” President Granger said in response to criticisms of his decision to extend pardons.
He said that he does not act on his own, but makes the pardons based on a criterion advised by the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister.

Last May, the Government took a decision to free 60 prisoners who were serving time for minor misdemeanors and who were between the ages of 18 and 25. This is expected to be an annual feature as well.

“I don’t see why a 19-year-old should be sentenced to 14 months in prison for stealing a cell phone. I know there are other factors, but I intend to do this every Christmas for young mothers and every Independence Day for young persons.”
It is the view of President Granger that young people should be pursuing higher learning instead of being locked away in prison. Pardoned first offenders would participate in rehabilitative programmes that would help them to effectively reintegrate into society.

“We hope to ensure that when young persons — boys and girls — are released from jail, they get an opportunity to attend some rehabilitative training, so they don’t become convicts and go to jail again.”

The President and his administration hope that those who have been, and will be, given a second chance make a meaningful contribution to the development of Guyana.