Latest update September 28th, 2026 10:00 AM
Sanitary conditions at B/dam lockups pose no public health risk
…public health inspectors do not
visit detention facilities –Ramsammy
Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy told the National Assembly on Thursday that he does not believe that the conditions at the Alberttown and Brickdam lockups pose a health risk to the public or to persons coming into contact with the facilities.
He was responding to a question posed by Guyana Action Party representative and Member of Parliament Everall Franklin.
Ramsammy reiterated that the present state of the two lockups does not pose any health risk to citizens.
He, however, said he would urge the authorities to continue to ensure that the conditions are safe for persons incarcerated in the lockup.
This is especially since, according to him, public health inspectors do not visit these detention facilities.
The minister pointed out that his last visit to the lockups was in 1991, when he was arrested for protesting outside of the Parliament Buildings.
When told by Ramsammy that the facilities do not pose a risk to the public health, Franklin sought to probe whether it would pose risks to persons traversing the facilities on a daily basis, such as employees.
Ramsammy then conceded that sanitary conditions do pose a health threat, pointing to a recent address given by him where he was critical of sanitary conditions in any public place. “And I would hope that all of the authorities pay closer attention to ensure clean sanitary blocks.”
Ramsammy also made a commitment to the House to carry out visits to the lockups to ascertain whether there was any danger to persons incarcerated, and to seek to ensure that the facilities are safe for all.
Recently, lead member of the Yoruba Singers, Eze Rockcliffe, was a guest of the Brickdam lockups and had noted that the state of the lockups was appalling. “I was not in the lockups,” stated Rockcliffe. “It was some sort of dungeon. It was the worst human condition I have ever experienced.”
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