Six inmates of the Camp Street Prison and a prison officer have been rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for medical treatment following a standoff at the Prison on Friday morning.

Even as there was heightened security in and around the Camp Street Prison following the death of 17 inmates and injury of five, prisoners this morning continued to riot. The Guyana Chronicle understands that the prison officer suffered an injury to the head following a confrontation with the prisoners. Two of the six prisoners are in a critical condition.

At approximately 6:15h prisoners began to protest within the prison walls and set fire to one of the buildings there. The fire was extinguished but some of the prisoners managed to gain access to the yard of the penitentiary and even on top of the roof.

Police were forced to use tear gas in an effort to restrain them and get them out of the Capital A section of the penitentiary. Some of the prisoners have since surrendered.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, Permanent Secretary of his Ministry and a large complement of joint services workers are currently at the scene.

Additional details will be provided as they become available.