As is customary, this year, the Pepperpot Magazine visited the New Amsterdam Prison in New Amsterdam, Berbice, to highlight how the inmates spend the festive season.

New Amsterdam Prison is the only prison in Guyana that houses all female prisoners, both on remand and convicted. It has a separate section for male prisoners.

The Officer-in-Charge of the New Amsterdam Prison is Patrick Crawford, Assistant Superintendent of Prisons, who has been at the helm for the past two years and three months; however, he is no stranger to prisons with the years of service he has amassed.

Crawford stated that in the Female Prison, they have three dormitories, a kitchen, a dining hall, a kitchen garden, and a large farm.

In the Men Prison, there are several blocks, a yard dormitory, an infirmary, a chapel, a kitchen, a farm, and separate dining halls for remanded prisoners and convicted prisoners.

At the time of the visit, Crawford related that on December 20, all the female prisoners were scheduled to be relocated to Timehri Prison to facilitate the construction of a brand-new female prison.

He reported that construction is scheduled to be completed in mid-next year.

Crawford added that at Christmas, they try to have all the traditional meals prepared for all prisoners even though they provide three square meals daily and celebrate with a concert held in the Male Prison on December 21. He stated that it would take the form of a cultural event featuring traditional board and indoor games.

Christmas in jail
Convicted prisoner from the female section, Awena Rutherford, told the Pepperpot Magazine that this is her 11th Christmas at the New Amsterdam Prison, and it is a sad time of the year for her since she is away from her family.

Even though emotions run high, she tries to keep it under control. Two weeks ago, they had family bonding and she was able to see her relatives and it was a good feeling leading up to the holidays.

“I feel in-between, kind of sad and also overwhelmed at the same time, but it is jail, so I am trying to keep it together,” she said.

Rutherford disclosed that since they will be relocating, there is no Christmas Tree Light-up this year with the reindeer and no gift exchange either.

She has been incarcerated since 2014 and is awaiting her appeal, but in the meantime, she keeps herself busy sewing and knitting.

Rutherford reported that she is a changed woman who is looking forward to getting out where she will utilise her skills to become self-employed.

“A lot of people are of the opinion that prison is bad, but here is home for me now, and I stay motivated because I want to get out and be free and spend time reflecting on life, reading the Bible and going to church service,” she said.

Even after she was convicted, Rutherford said her family never gave up on her and more so when her mother passed away, her mom’s sister filled the void.

These days, Rutherford would spend her days at the sewing machine making uniforms for her fellow inmates, prison officers and for the prison expo.

She describes prison as a “home away from home” and that this year, Christmas will be spent in jail quietly.

Away from home
Odessa St. Hill is a 41-year-old prisoner and a mother of three who has been in jail since 2019. She related that Christmas behind bars is “hard” without being home with her children.

“I miss my children and family a lot, especially this time of the year when I should be home doing the most to make the place decorated and prepare all the fancy meals, but here, I am,” she said.

St. Hill told the Pepperpot Magazine that she would talk to her children via phone and video chat at the allowed time, but it is not the same as being there in person.

She added that this Christmas in jail will be spent just as last year, quietly with the hope of getting out.

The prisoner stated that they would get good meals, and so on this time of the year, with music and the get-together, which is a must. And once they are on their best behaviour, more dining time will be allotted.

St. Hill is the head cook for the female section of the New Amsterdam Prison and she tries to stay normal and abide by the rules of the jailhouse.

“Prison isn’t a bed of roses. It is hard being here, locked away, from your kids, family and husband,” she said.

She is a graphic designer by profession and when she gets out, she plans to establish her own small business to earn.

Writing poems, reading the Bible and newspapers
Rokeisha Colins, a 38-year-old mother of four, will be spending her 2nd Christmas in the New Amsterdam Female Prison.

She reported that it has been 19 months in jail and as a vegetarian, she will get bread with cheese even though they will have Pepperpot in fish, chicken, beef and pork.

Colins noted that Christmas behind bars is a sad time for her because she would rather be with her children, whom she misses dearly and cannot wait to be reunited with.

However, in jail, she would spend the time to read the Bible, the newspapers and write poems, and she has a lot to do since she is the Farm and Back Dormitory Orderly.

Since being in jail, Colins said she benefitted from seven different courses and when she gets out, she will be returning to her snackette in her home village.

The jailhouse musician
Clive Knights will be spending his 12th Christmas in jail, and it is a feeling of deep sadness that spreads over him, but he will overcome that feeling since he is in charge of putting together all the concerts and cultural events hosted by the prison.

He will not disappoint this year, as well, and he has to regain control of his emotions to organise everything for the Christmas concert.

The father of three told the Pepperpot Magazine that this year, he will attend the church service on Christmas morning, participate in the special meals, and play the music that day.

“Jail is like a school; you meet people from all walks of life, and you become a large family and embrace each other, and there is the hope of getting out, to redeem your freedom because in here you are like a child, you have to do what you’re told,” he said.

Knights added that he is awaiting his parole since he would like to be reunited with his sons, ages 21, 19 and 16 years old.

Knights reported that in the male section of the prison, he has developed a bond with the other prisoners, and they share and help each other become better people.

“Being away from your family at Christmas is hard and it brings mixed feelings, but it is what it is and being in prison takes away a lot from you. When you get out, there is nothing and you must re-start from scratch if you want to maintain your freedom,” he said.

Knights teaches the drama group, leads the worship service at the chapel, and acts as a mediator between prisoners and officers regarding complaints.

Apart from that, he is responsible for seeing the yard is tidy and is always ready to host any event the prison may have.

“I am hoping this will be my last Christmas in jail. I want to go home to my children,” he said.

Going home
Ramesh Sewlall, 25, is hoping to get 28 days remission for good behaviour since he has been working in prison at the front gate and at the self-support area as the Orderly.

He would like to be home for Christmas this year and hasn’t had a day off in prison since he was incarcerated 21 months ago.

Sewlall said being in prison is hard and it gets worse at Christmas since there is no family there and you have to spend it in jail.

“Prison is hope in troubled times and there are others here for many years. Our only hope is freedom and that keeps me motivated. I want to go home and never return,” he said.

Sewlall told the Pepperpot Magazine that self-control brings sense-control and he lives by these two simple things, which have kept him out of trouble behind bars.