By Ariana Gordon

PRESERVING his belongings after the fire was lit in the Capital ‘A’ Division of the Georgetown Prison on March 2 was priority for robbery-under-arms accused Collis Collison. Collison testified before the three-man Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the prison riots on Thursday. He told the commission that he attempted to find out the reason behind the lighting of the fires and was told that what had transpired was not his business.
Because of the response he received, Collison decided to focus on his belongings. He recounted that officer in charge of the Georgetown Prison, Kevin Pilgrim,had informed the prisoners that a search would be conducted. According to the 23-year-old, Pilgrim also instructed the prisoners to exit the Capital ‘A’ Division “five by five.”

He said on the day in question he had received a visitor and so he, after speaking with his visitor, went to the infirmary for medication. “On me way coming back from the infirmary the officer put me in the cage and lock me up…the words to me was…dem and want me go up deh because dem done lock the door …before me name start call. “
He said he was alone in the cage. It was at that point he was held by the prison officers. “Them tek me and lock me in the cage,” said Collison. “The officers told me the prisoners lock off the door and before me name call I go in the cage, I spend 10-15 minutes and then them said the prisoners dem open the door and then dem open me and tell me go fuh me belongings.”

After collecting his belongings, Collison, who was first charged at age 14, said he returned to the tarmac of the prison complex. He told the commission during cross-examination by attorney for the Guyana Prison Service and Guyana Police Force, Selwyn Pieters, that fellow inmates had blocked the main entrance and exit to the Capital ‘A’ Division with a cork.
Asked by Pieters to explain the process by which the prisoners inside of the dwelling unit controlled access or entry into Capital ‘A’, Collison replied, “I won’t be able to explain how it is used…Sir.”

Collison explained that he and the other inmates spent about 45 minutes in the cage, after which the prison officials informed them that they can return to the location. He made it clear that the prisoners had not been upset because the prison officers had seized some of the illicit items found.
He said the officer in charge had spoken with prisoners after the search. That night he said he slept early, but was awakened by the scent of smoke. “When I wake up I asked what’s going on, is six months I in prison …them prisoners deh in 9, 7, 5 years and the prisoners’ words to me was keep out we waiting on the High Court 4,5,6,7, 8 years,” recounted Collison.

The prisoner maintained that the fires were not lit on March 2, because of the search conducted by the joint services, but because of the length of time most of the prisoners were incarcerated while on remand in the Camp Street facility.
“…nobody never talk about phone and them kind of things,” he told the commission.

Asked whether he had observed any quarrels about who may have divulged information during the search to the officers, Collison said no. the prisoner said too that he did not see inmates breaking the wall that separates Capital ‘A’ from Capital ‘B’.
“No sir. The wall didn’t break sir,” he added, noting that the hole was used as a means of communicating with inmates located in Capital ‘B’. According to Collison, the hole was also used for selling marijuana to prisoners.

Protecting my interest
The South Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) resident said on March 3 he was more interested in protecting his interests. He explained that he remembered the words of the prisoners the night before and so he “hold me corner and block my face.”
“Remember sir, the prisoners’ words to me earlier on was nothing ain’t concerning me…I can’t talk against 50 or something man. So I hold my corner and block my face,” said Collison.
The prisoner explained that his sole concern at the time was “protecting my safety.” He said he was unaware of who may have lit the fire, but noted that no attempt was made by him to encourage the prisoners from not lighting the fires.

“No, everybody was running wild…people were trying to secure their food and these kinda things… there was water all over the place,” said Collison who has been in the Camp Street facility since October 2015.
He recounted during cross-examination by Pieters that at approximately 7am on March 3, he woke up and noticed that other prisoners in the other divisions were being fed. He said Capital ‘A’ is usually fed first. “People didn’t wake up yet… I notice the prison feeding up in the process…normally they feed us up in Capital ‘A’ and ‘B’ first. No officer came and ask us if we want to be feed up.”

Shortly after, Collison said he saw a large crew of prison officers around Capital ‘A’ and it was then that Officer in Charge Kevin Pilgrim instructed the inmates of the division to get their valuables and exit the building “five by five.”
Pilgrim was accompanied by an Officer identified only as “Officer Charles.” As the prison officers attempted to open the door with the keys, it was discovered that the door was blocked with a cork. “I told my fellow inmates to unblock the door. Cork was there…when the door lock from outside it was in between the steel,” the man said. When the door was unblocked, two officers were standing outside of the door.

Collison explained that he saw approximately seven task force officers circling the prisoners who had exited Capital ‘A’. He said he saw one prisoner Steve Allicock being ill-treated by the officers. “…one hold him by he foot,” the prisoner recounted. He, Collison, was among the next set of prisoners to exit the premises. He said he had “self-sufficient wares” and a towel over his shoulder.

Noting illegal
“I was searched…nothing illegal wasn’t found on me…After the search – I hear an officer asked if I finish getting search… then they came running towards me…lift me up and throw me down and they use their knee and press down my chest…Cuff me to my face…I was on the ground… me n do nothing… nobody aint answer me when I ask what I did… they drag me…drag me up the step,” Collison, who said he was shackled, told the commission.

At that point the prisoner said he saw the third and fourth set of prisoners running back into the prison. He was then asked to state what he felt was responsible for the prisoners retreating to the prison; he said “I can’t read their mind, I wouldn’t be able to say why they run back in, but I would suggest that is fear.”
After Collison was taken to the reception area, he said he asked to see someone in charge and was told he couldn’t, as all persons were busy. He said he spent a few hours in the reception area before he saw “Mr Samuels” whom he requested an audience with. According to Collison, Samuels called him and as he was about to recount his ordeal, he was summoned to a meeting.

“…meen even get to talk because the president or somebody call them,” the prisoner related. While in the reception area he noticed the fire. “There was a window with some grills…was a clear view of the Capital ‘A’ building…I saw a set of black smoke and hear hollering.”
Based on his vantage point, the prisoner said he saw no prison officers only prisoners on the catwalk. He observed what occurred for about 30 minutes after which he was told that some of the prisoners had died. “When I receive the news I start crying too…”

Ganja sale a norm
Meanwhile, Collison who had posted several pictures of himself and other inmates on ,told the commission that the sale of marijuana is a norm in the Camp Street facility. He also admitted to the use of cellphones and improvised weapons used for protection. According to the prisoner, inmates would break the steel out of the bed frames and “pay somebody some cigarette” to have it sharpened. “That’s how you get it in the prison,” he added. Scissors and razor blades can also be found in the penitentiary said Collison. Asked whether he has a Facebook page, Collison responded in the affirmative and noted that he has posted pictures from prison to his Facebook page.

The CoI was adjourned by the commission just before noon on Thursday. It is unclear when the next sitting will be held, as according to the original Terms of Reference (ToR) the commission is required to render its report, findings and recommendations to Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan by Monday, March 28. Though strict rules are not applied at the commission, the commission is bound by the ToR. Justice James Patterson made it clear to Glen Hanoman, attorney sitting for the Guyana Bar Association that while the ToR state March 28, it is impossible for the inquiry to be completed then. An extension he said must be granted. Meanwhile, Attorney Pieters has travelled back to Canada and said he would return after receiving word from the commission on a date for resumption.