Acting Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels announced a financial incentive to prison warders who come forward with information that can result in the prosecution of officers found complicit in smuggling and other illegalities within the prison system.

“The sanitisation of the prison system requires all officers to be committed to the move. Time and time again we have seen acts that can only be as a result of collusion. The Ministry of Public Security and the Guyana Prison Service would like to see officers speak out on corruption at all levels,” Samuels told media operatives on Monday.

He continued: “As such, officers are encouraged to help in this fight. For all those officers who come forward with details that can result to detection and prosecution, they will be given an incentive of between $15,000 to 25,000. Let us commit to making this organisation a purpose- driven one.”

Adding, that the dangers of trafficking contraband in the prison environment also put the perpetrators and warders at risk, Samuels said. “Prison officers should not be putting their fellow officers at risk. What about our motto: ‘Together in Service?’ Trafficking in contraband at all locations is a matter of grave concern, but at the Mazaruni Prison, which is a maximum security prison it is worst because of the extent of the collusion that is needed for many contraband items to get into the prison.”

He said the prison’s motto: “Together We Serve” is one in which officers swore to uphold and which is widely repeated during the annual anniversary when the celebrations of the high-risk job is observed.

Noting that over the past few weeks, despite regular searches, prison wardens kept unearthing various forms of contraband including cellular phones, marijuana and local wine along with other illegalities. The prison director said this should be cause for concern for each and every one since the security of the prison, and by extension the security of the nation is at risk.

Further, he noted, “I do believe that while many prison officers are not directly involved in trafficking of contraband, they were aware of others who were. However, when you know your fellow officers are breaking the law and you remain silent, you are as guilty as they are.”