Government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA), continues to enhance the prison system to ensure that it does not defeat its purpose “to protect society against crime by using the period of imprisonment to help offenders become willing and able to lead law-abiding and self-supporting lives.” As such, constant interventions are being made under the overall modernisation process that the Home Affairs Ministry has embarked on to improve on operations of its sub-agencies.
The recent one-day retreat held at the Grand Coastal Inn, East Coast Demerara, to review the management of the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) saw participants deliberating on several broad areas, including correctional measures, prison rehabilitation programmes, welfare issues, custodial and non-custodial capacity constraints, recruitment and training, strategic and succession planning, prison enterprise development, establishment of an Agriculture Development Board, and the application of appropriate technology for the all-round development of the prison.
According to a release from the Ministry, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, in his remarks, called for urgent attention to be paid to correction of extant deficiencies at the custodial and non-custodial levels, as well as in respect of other services provided by the GPS.
He recognised that certain deficiencies would have to be addressed at the policy level, the management level, and at level of the individual.
The Minister expressed the view that as the country’s primary detention/correctional facility, there is need for greater technological application in the activities of the institution. This, he said, can be propelled to a higher level of efficiency, as is evident in other societies.
The Minister challenged the GPS to consider moving closer to a correctional service, and to establish its own website to better serve the information needs of the wider society. The recruitment of additional and qualified human resources was highlighted as an area to be pursued more aggressively to match the growing prison population.
Ways and means of stamping out the smuggling/trafficking of prohibited items in the prison, such as cell phones, was discussed at length and innovative counter measures considered for implementation.
A key area discussed was the operationalisation and status of trade shops at the respective prison locations as a means of providing skills training for prisoners, and as part of the Prisoners’ Rehabilitation Programme.
In line with this objective, the Ministry has provided necessary equipment to the trade shops. It is envisaged that the initiative will eventually evolve into a vibrant Prisons’ Enterprise Development Programme.
The retreat received a report on a recently formulated 2010-2015 Strategic Plan, for the GPS. The plan will be further examined and discussed at various levels of government.
The retreat also saw a call for the establishment of a Sentence Management Board, and the launching of an Internal Cadetship Programme, for the GPS.
A retreat was held last year when participants were given the opportunity to analyse a 68-page report drafted by the Ministry of Public Service on ways to improve capacities and capabilities within the prisons. (GINA)