– after completion of first phase of Mazaruni Prison expansion

AN additional 200 prisoners will be housed at the Mazaruni Prison after the first phase of the expansion, which is set to be completed by October of this year, acting Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, said.

“The other phase will go into next year but in keeping with the progress meetings we have every third Thursday, things are at the level it should be at this time,” Samuel said.
Trinidadian firm, Kee-Chanona, is partnering with Guyanese company, Nabi Construction Incorporated, to execute the project.

In total, the $4B expansion project will hold 400 prisoners and help with overcrowding at the other prisons across the country. When finished, there will be a U-shaped, two-storey building that will house cells, offices and a courtyard for the prisoners.
Phase Two of the project will be a square-shaped building that will house offices, training centres and accommodation for the prisoners.

A road will also be constructed to link the two prisons.

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, had expressed satisfaction at the pace in which the works are being carried out since there is need for more space to accommodate prisoners.

He said the fires in 2016 and 2017 have placed a strain on the other prisons.
“That is why we have to get the prison estate in Mazaruni up and going and that is happening. I want to commend the contractors, the engineers and the consultants for ensuring that is happening. The important thing is to get prison space for prisoners so that we can shelve what Lusignan is presently and also some of the other prisons outside of Mazaruni, that is, in Georgetown and in Berbice so that the main prison will be at Mazaruni.”