ON Sunday afternoon, Guyanese were alerted that the Georgetown Prison, Camp Street, was on fire. At the time of writing this editorial information has been pouring in and a final determination of what could have led to the incident could not be made known. Getting to the bottom of what caused the incident requires time and a thorough investigation, but in the meantime, Guyanese are urged to remain calm and cooperate with law enforcement.
This incident saw several prison officers being shot, one of whom succumbed to his injuries. The Guyana Chronicle extends deepest condolences to his family and relatives.

In addition, some inmates were also injured, all of whom were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. Reportedly, some of the inmates have escaped and there were skirmishes at Buxton, East Coast Demerara. Such a report is bound to remind society of the February 2002 jailbreak, even though the responses to what happened yesterday thus far show that the Joint Services have learnt from the 2002 experience.

This is a very serious issue that has local and international implications. Tempting though it may be to seek political mileage or finger-point, now is not the time for this. What Guyanese must present is a unified front in the face of this adversity, so that those who were involved in this incident are made aware that justice must and shall prevail.
To the other officers whose lives were threatened, be it by injuries or otherwise, they need the nation’s support, because the incident could not have been a pleasant nor deserving experience. Those in the vicinity of the prison who are being affected, it requires grit to be calm in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. All Guyanese, irrespective of where we reside, it requires due diligence in our neighbourhood, paying attention to public announcements from the State, including the prison and police administrations, and complying with their advice and request.

Last year March, Camp Street saw a similarly riotous incident, where 17 prisoners died and a prison officer injured. This led to a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) that produced recommendations. Arising from its report, Government has taken action to realise the refurbishing and extension of the Mazaruni Prison, with the aim of housing high-security prisoners and easing the overcrowding.

Today, the Legal Affairs Ministry will launch a US$8 million project funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to tackle overcrowding at local prison facilities. The programme will provide support for the criminal justice system as it moves ahead to reduce the number of pre-trial detentions of prisoners, while increasing use of alternative sentencing, (outside of jail time).
Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, has advised that the outbreak was committed by remand prisoners. This community was given special consideration by the CoI ,which urged that the justice system be reformed with a view to having trials expedited to minimise the time persons are kept on remand. The fire has ravaged the complex which is likely to make it uninhabitable to provide accommodation of the required security level for inmates.

The collaboration of the Joint Services in working towards moving the prisoners away from the scene in the shortest possible time, taking into consideration their health and safety, is noted. This people-centred approach, while commendable, reconstruction should factor in the environment within which Lot 12 Camp Street was constructed and the population it intended to serve comparatively to the environment and needs of today. When the Camp Street prison was constructed, it was at the periphery of Georgetown. Today it is smack in its centre, which makes it a logistical and security concern. This scary experience, where two have occurred in less than two years, may necessitate serious attention being paid to relocating. It is understood that funding is not readily available for what would likely be a very costly undertaking.

This year’s National Budget set aside $350 million for a Mazaruni Prison expansion and it is safe to assume that building a new prison could cost billions. But there will come a time when it has to be decided whether the society, for the safety and security of all, can ill afford not engaging in such relocation. In the light of Government putting in place a reformation programme, such will also require conditions consistent with a 21st century prison system, including how inmates are housed and treated, and the conditions under which prison officers work.