Dear Editor,
IN HIS column on July10, Mr Freddie Kissoon referred to “overcrowding” at the Georgetown prison and concluded that nothing has been done about this.
The issue of overcrowding is as old as the prisons in Georgetown. Remember the “Prisoners on the roof” episodes, and the 2002 Jailbreak?
Well, when the PPP left or was removed from office, there were in excess of 1300 prisoners in the Camp Street Jail that was made for 600 inmates maximum. The new Government engaged the Judiciary to hold nights courts. Then the acting Chancellor appointed some eight magistrates and the courts functioned to clear up overcrowding in the remand section of the prisons. I am told that some $80 million was spent.
Then, some prisoners were relocated to Mazaruni and Timehri and a new prison is now under construction in Mazaruni for convicted prisoners. To say that this Government did nothing is misleading. More could have been done, I admit, and the law should have been changed to make possession of Marijuana of up to 15 grams non-custodial. The motion by AFC’s MP Carrington gives a good lead in this direction not to decriminalise Marijuana, but to change the sentencing guidelines. Mr Kissoon must add ideas to debate for reform, not throw up his hands in disgust and pessimism.
Regards
George Baynes