Lusignan Prison conditions unsatisfactory- Home Affairs Minister

Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn on Saturday indicated to the prison management that he was unsatisfied with the conditions at the Lusignan Prison and has tasked the prison management to detail the developmental plat for the prison.

Benn and a team of engineers and other officials from his minister visited the prison on Saturday according to a statement from the Director of Prison Gladwin Samuels who also had his team on hand to brief the ministry’s team.

It was pointed out that during the visit, Minister Robeson Benn received a guided tour of the facility where the conditions under which employees were forced to work and which prisoners are being housed.

“High on the agenda will be the construction of additional areas so that social distancing can be practiced, and better supervision and management of the prisoners can be conducted.  The Prison Directorate and engineers were also tasked with detailing the development plans for the Lusignan location” the released from the Prison Director stated.

Benn was also briefed on the administration of the Lusignan Prison, its population, security challenged, COVID-19 initiatives and also recommendations for meeting some of the challenges which presently exist at the facility.

The release also stated that during a visit to the kitchen area and livestock sections of the prison, Benn was given an insight into what can be achieved by the prison authority should additional lands and resources which were requested is approved.

“Inmates made some representations on accommodations, court hearings, legal assistance, food, familial visits, recreational diversions and counseling services” … “The Minister committed to working with all concerned to bring measurable improvements, not only to Lusignan, but also to the Georgetown, Mazaruni, New Amsterdam and Timehri Prisons on a timely basis” the release from the Director of Prison was quoted as saying.

Benn was also brought up to speed with the current status of court hearings at various (Magistrate, High and Appeal) courts level.

The prison administration was assured that the issues raised would be pursued and addressed to ensure better public safety, a more secure environment for the prison population, improved rehabilitation and safer less stressful working conditions for the staff of the Guyana Prison Service.

Last month, inmates set fire to the facility after a misunderstanding with prison officers who reportedly refused to return contraband which was seized during an operation at the facility.

The Lusignan Prison has been having issues for some time now since its population expanded following the fires at the Camp Street Jail which saw the relocation of hundreds of prisoners into a pasture which was later converted into a holding bay.