A $127M marine vessel to transport prisoners, staff and cargo between Parika and the Mazaruni Prison was officially commissioned on Saturday at the Guyana National Industrial Company (GNIC) Wharf, Lombard Street, Georgetown.

The vessel, the M.V Troy–W is named after Troy Williams, the prison officer who was killed during the 2002 jailbreak.

His sister, Briana Williams, who was only four years old when he was killed and his mother Alexis Williams cut the ribbon to officially launch the vessel before it was given a test run in the Demerara River.

Acting Prison Director, Gladwin Samuels, who recommended the vessel be named after Williams, said all prison officers should serve in the spirit that Williams did, pointing out that the prison officer served with distinction until his death.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said the aim of the Government is to improve security, efficiency and proficiency of the services and new assets are more than helpful in this regard.

“ [The] Georgetown Prison, like so many of the other prisons, are more than a 100 years old; that prison was flattened. The other assets accompanying these institutions are very old and for the transportation of ranks and prisoners, safe transportation is needed,” Ramjattan said.

He said Cabinet has agreed that only brand new vehicles should be bought rather than reconditioned ones that do not give proper service.

Expressing satisfaction at the quality of work and the rate at which the vessel was completed, Minister Ramjattan said he is pleased at the finished product and that local persons benefitted from jobs.

In keeping with the modernisation of the prison service, Ramjattan said Government intends to do what is needed to safeguard the interest of society.

“We want to also expand the Mazaruni Prison to include another 500 prisoners… and the 2018 allocation is $1.5 billion that will see the start of works next year,” he said.

Guyana National Industrial Company (GNIC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Clinton Williams said the company is confident of its products and the quality of maintenance offered.

“In fact, over the years, through collaboration with the Board of Industrial Training (BIC), we have trained in excess of 1,000 youths within our facilities in wielding and fabrication, electrical installation and plumbing,” he explained.

He continued: “In our view, we make a contribution to the country’s poverty alleviation programme… we are continuously engaging a number of vendors and service providers in the oil and gas sector with a view to expand our services.”

The vessel has accommodation for 80 passengers above the main deck as well as for 60 tonnes of cargo below the main deck ahead of the engine room. It contains three watertight bulkheads which divide the hull into four compartments.

The boat which is designed with a free running speed of not less than 12 knots, is fitted with two Perkins Diesel Engines developing about 500HP.

Two warders had undergone training to operate the vessel in the correct manner.

Also in attendance at the commissioning were Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson; Commander of ‘A’ Division, Marlon Chapman; and other senior officers from the Guyana Police Force and the Prison Service.