-construction of tarmacked area fast-tracked

QUICK action by members of the Joint Services saved the Lusignan Prison from being set ablaze by inmates on Friday morning.
Firefighters and officers responded quickly to reports of a disruption at the East Coast Demerara (ECD) prison around 02:00hrs, where it was discovered that prisoners were hurling incendiary devices at the facilities in the prison’s compound.
Prison officials told this newspaper that the act was carried out by prisoners who were occupying the pasture within the perimeter of the prison. Inmates were allegedly enraged by the submerged conditions of the pasture which was caused by torrential rainfall.
“Pieces of wood and bottles were set alight and hurled at the building by enraged prisoners,” said an official who added that the items fell short of their target.
Prisoners reportedly accessed fuel from a generator at the facility which they used to ignite the items. Officials told this newspaper that a round was discharged to simmer the situation and reports indicate that a prisoner was grazed by the bullet. Security has since been beefed up at the prison and its environs.
The actions of the prisoners had repercussions which left relatives of the inmates dissatisfied. A relative told this publication that prison authorities are not issuing self-support cards, which are usually given to them in order to take food and clothing for their confined relatives. She went on to say that security officials informed her that self-support cards would not be issued until the situation quells.
Meanwhile, following the Camp Street Prison fire which destroyed most of the facility Sunday last, over 1000 prisoners were forced to join their Lusignan colleagues. But due to overcrowding of the building, some of them had to take up residence in the pasture.

CONSTRUCTION EXPEDITED
After spending a little less than a week in a pasture within the perimeter of the Lusignan Prison, the over 500 prisoners who are currently housed there will be shifted to another “walled area” with better facilities. Following the Camp Street Prison fire which destroyed most of the facility Sunday last, over 1000 prisoners were forced to join their Lusignan colleagues. But due to overcrowding of the building, some of them had to take up residence in the pasture.

In an attempt to rectify this situation, the relevant authorities and stakeholders have taken a decision to transfer them to other holding facilities and construct a tarmac and sheds at another walled area obliquely opposite the current abode.
“We are making accommodation for them in another walled area that was tarmacked and has sheds… this is being done as we speak,” said Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan during a press conference in his office on Thursday.
The minister accepted the current conditions under which the prisoners are housed are unjust and said today, they are expected to be shifted to the new facility which has washing areas, toilet facilities and other basic amenities. With the congestion being decreased, the new area will be ideal to temporarily house the prisoners, Ramjattan said.
“We are obligated in accordance with international protocols and national standards to have the prisoners in better conditions than they are currently in,” said Ramjattan, while adding that they are in the process of rehabilitating the concrete structure at the Camp Street Prison which will house at least 250 persons.

SANITISED
In order to maintain order in the new walled area, the prisoners will be sanitised and thoroughly checked for improvised weapons, Prisons Director Gladwin Samuels said.
While domiciled in the pasture, the prisoners at times engaged in violent confrontations, but Samuels pronounced that these clashes resulted in only cuts and bruises.
In one instance, a prisoner was shot to the left arm by a guard after he was observed on the wall in an apparent attempt to escape. All the injured received medical attention on site.
“Because of the volatile situation in the facility, we were able to have only a bird’s eye view of what was going on… so that gave prisoners the opportunity to bury improvised weapons, which made it difficult to recover during search exercises,” the Director of Prisons said. On a more positive note, some prisoners received support from their relatives.
When the Guyana Chronicle visited the site on Thursday, the GPF had checkpoints set up and various areas barricaded, so that persons would not be able to be within proximity of the holding facility.