…as entire Camp St block destroys

Prison Warden, Wayne Wickham died Sunday evening after being shot by prisoners of the Camp Street Prison earlier in the day during a riot. And the entire prison block had been destroyed from the blaze set alight by the inmates who had seized the officers weapons during an ambush.

Hundreds of the inmates have since been relocated to other holding facilities across the country. President David Granger is expected to make a statement and Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan and heads of the joint services will appear at the news conference to answer questions on the matter.

Earlier report
In an ongoing situation, several prison officers and prisoners have been rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) as unrest at the Camp Street prison is being addressed by the security forces.
At the moment, a large conflagration is being battled by members of the Guyana Fire Service at the prison. The fire started in the Capital Offences wing of the prison along Durban Street and reports from the ground are that the prison’s arms store is on fire. The blaze has spread along sections of the prison along Camp Street and Bent Streets.
While it is unclear what triggered the unrest, reports are that gunshots were heard inside the prison following which smoke was spotted above the prison roof around 17:00 hrs today (Sunday).

Unconfirmed reports are that several prisoners escaped from the prison while police and security forces are responding to the situation. There are reports of a shoot out between the police and the escaped prisoners at Buxton, East Coast Demerara.
A building across the road from the prison along Durban Street caught afire but the blaze was extinguished by the firemen.

Reports from the scene are that prisoners are being shuttled to the GPHC for treatment while reports from the hospital are that seven prison officers are being treated for various injuries including gunshot wounds. Two prison officers were critically injured. The Guyana Chronicle will provide additional details on the developing situation.