MINISTER of Home Affairs Clement Rohee, on Tuesday, received the report done by a Board of Inquiry established in May, to investigate allegations of misconduct, made against officers at the Lusignan Prison, East Coast of Demerara, one of the five maximum security incarceration facilities in Guyana.
The investigation was conducted based on allegations of mismanagement at the senior level, the use of narcotics by officers, pilfering and unaccountability of stores (rations) and equipment.
The Board comprised of several senior officers within the Guyana Prison Service (GPS), including Deputy Director of Prisons, Lt. Col. Malcolm McAndrews, Senior Superintendent Dennis Pompey, Basil Persaud and Gordon Smith.
In an effort to ensure that the situation did not degenerate any further, the team conducted interviews and examined documents at the prison, finding that some allegations were confirmed while others could not be substantiated.

Officially, there was “some level of inefficiency in the management of Lusignan Prison.”
The report provides both findings and recommendations, to be implemented in the short and long-term, in the best interest of the facility, its staff and those persons incarcerated within.

In this regard, the recommendations include training for staff stationed at the prison, upgrades in infrastructure throughout the facility and a system review of the prison’s accounting procedures. Additionally, disciplinary action will be taken against offending officers.
Minister Rohee said the Home Affairs Ministry, which has general oversight of all prison operations and security, will study the report and its findings, and thereafter, several levels of follow up will be conducted, along with the input from other stakeholders.
He said stakeholders such as those members on the Lusignan Prison Visiting Committee has the authority, under the Prison Act,  to visit all prisons and review recommendations, such as those provided in the report under review.
The Minister specifically pointed out that such boards of inquiry are launched as a result of particular circumstances requiring them or by special request. In this regard, there are no such existing questions in relation to any of the other prisons.
He noted that the Report is important and will be used as a prototype to ensure such allegations do not arise at other locations. There is currently no cause or justification to launch an inquiry into any of the other prisons in the system. (GINA)