Latest update January 20th, 2025 3:08 AM
Republican boxers to benefit from equipped Prison gym
– Demerara Mutual Life made sponsorship
Among those inmates that will benefit from use of the Georgetown Prison Flex-in Gym of the Guyana Prison Service will be three Republican Gym boxers who are at present training with the National Boxing Team with the expectation of representing Guyana in upcoming contests overseas.
A section of the Gym at the Georgetown Prison.
The Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited funded the purchase of exercise equipment for the Georgetown Prison Flex-in Gym of the Guyana Prison Service.
This new gym, which is located in the compound of the Georgetown Prison is to be used by both Officers and Inmates was recently opened in the presence of Director of Prisons (ag.) Mr. Weldon Trotz; the Marketing Manager, Mr. Clarence Perry and the Sales Coordinator, Ms Sharmela Ramsammy of Demerara Mutual Life; Managing Director of Flex Night Inc., Mr. Donald Sinclair; Flex Night Inc. Directors Mr. David Gomes and Mrs. Diane Sinclair; senior and junior Officers of the Guyana Prison Service; well-wishers and inmates of the Georgetown Prison.
It was explained that the idea for the gym was first conceived by Flex Night Inc. Managing Director Mr. Donald Sinclair after he witnessed a performance of “Prisons in Concert” at the National Cultural Centre. The idea was embraced by the Directorate of the Prison Service, and given the blessing of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Chief Executive Officer of Demerara Life Mr. Keith Cholmondeley was very supportive when his organization was initially contacted, and diligent collaborative work by the Prison authorities and Flex Night Incorporated led to the project being embraced and fully funded by Demerara Life.
This collaboration between the two public/private entities was seen as an important advance as the Guyana Prison Service works on the implementation of its Strategic Development Plan. It links directly to three of the eight pillars in that Plan: Advancing Holistic Health Care in Prison, Promoting Successful Offender Re-Integration into Society, and Rebuilding Public Confidence and Trust.
Over a three-month period, Diane Sinclair, of Flex Night Inc. spearheaded training sessions with gym administrators and instructors in areas such as the administrative structure, essentials of gym management, rostering to achieve the most efficient use of equipment, care and maintenance of equipment, disciplined behaviour in the gym, and skills required to be competent Gym Instructors. The gym will therefore be supervised by capable instructors so as to derive maximum results.
From left Mr. Donald Sinclair (Managing Director Flex Night Inc), Mr. Clarence Perry (Marketing Manager Demerara Mutual Life), Mr. Welton Trotz (Acting Director of Prisons) and Ms. Sharmela Ramsammy (Sales Coordinator Demerara Mutual Life)
Mr. Clarence Perry, Marketing Manager of Demerara Life who spoke on behalf of the company said that his company was proud to be working in collaboration with the Guyana Prison Service. He asked that all users follow the guidelines and handle the equipment with care since there is always the likelihood that the company’s gesture can be extended to other areas, since he was confident the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) would support such projects in the future.
It is the expectation of the Guyana Prison Service that this collaboration will serve as a motivation to many other businesses in Guyana, since an investment in the Prison System can serve to change the lives of offenders for the better. This in turn can lead to a more successful re-integration into society and change in the structure of many single-parent households that may have been without the active support of a present male figure.
The Director of Prisons stressed the importance of discipline among all users of the gym as part of the new mandate of rehabilitation as part of correction. He felt that, in general, skill and ability were nothing without fitness, and he urged that the equipment be used by both officers and inmates.
Master of Ceremonies for the occasion was Senior Superintendent of Prisons (ag.) Mr. Gladwin Samuels, while the ribbon was cut by Ms Sharmela Ramsammy, Sales Executive of Demerara Mutual Life.
After the ceremony, officers, invitees and inmates practiced with some of the equipment. They were high in their praise of how modern the imported pieces of equipment were and also of the quality of the machines made locally by Mr. Nezam Haniff of Interline Fitness.
The Georgetown Prison Flex-in Gym of the Guyana Prison Service is expected to be the most- used gym in Guyana and the gym with the largest membership.
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