Latest update November 26th, 2024 1:00 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

New CBSI agreement between Guyana and US… US to help fund prison rehab

Jul 16, 2015 News

The new agreement between the governments of Guyana and the United States of America will result in elevation of standards and rehabilitation of prisons and lockups across Guyana.
The agreement which falls under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) was signed on Monday by Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge, and United States Chargé d’Affaires, Bryan Hunt.
This document constitutes an amendment to the original agreement signed between the two countries on April 8, 2011 under the framework of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI). It will allow for the continuation of the programmed activities under that Agreement.
Guyana has received US$850,000 under this arrangement since the beginning of the Agreement in 2011. The new agreement signed will provide US$50,000, taking the total funding for projects under the CBSI to a grand total of US$900,000. This sum will be channeled towards the funding of three projects in Guyana. The US State Department in a recent report criticized the present state of prisons in Guyana, saying that they pose a serious threat to human life.
The State Department 2014 Report on Human Rights featured an extensive exposé on Human Rights in Guyana and other countries around the world.
According to the report, the conditions “harsh and life threatening…overcrowding was a severe problem.”
This, according to Greenidge, would be addressed with a view to making the facilities more humane. He pointed out that training sessions will be conducted with Prison Officers and other relevant officials.
The money received through the agreement will also go towards training and development of law enforcements ranks. But law enforcement agents, who have violated human rights, would not be able to benefit from the training that will be offered.
This is according to Hunt who said, “The US law stipulates that anyone who is going to be receiving training under this programme has to go through human rights vetting to ensure that they did not commit any gross human rights violation.”
Hunt noted that prospective trainees are checked against all records that US law enforcement agencies have in their possession, and various public sources provided by non-governmental organisations. “It’s entirely a US government vetting process on the human rights side,” he said.
The envoy noted that the US applies human rights standards in keeping with various international human rights conventions.
Recently, the Guyana government took steps to sack two policemen who tortured a 15-year-old boy at the Leonora Police Station in 2009.
Upon the instructions of the new Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, Corporal Mohanram Dolai was dismissed from the force. Dolai and Narine Lall were controversially promoted in January.
Ramjattan said that he was advised that since Lall became an inspector, the Commissioner cannot fire him as, from that rank up to the rank of Deputy Commissioner, dismissal falls under the authority of the PSC. The minister subsequently sent the PSC a “strongly worded letter” requesting the dismissal of Lall.
Lall and Dolai were found liable of torturing a 15-year-old boy in 2009, when they poured methylated spirits on his genitals and set him alight while he was in custody at the Leonora Police Station as part of a murder investigation. After the collapse of the criminal case against them– owing to the failure of the teen and other witnesses to appear to testify–the duo was reinstated in the force.
Lall was promoted by the PSC based on a recommendation from Commissioner Persaud, while it was Persaud who directly promoted Dolai. After the promotions were reported on, both the PSC and Persaud defended the promotions, saying that persons ought not to be punished indefinitely.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 20th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Rutherford gets big payday from Gujarat Titans at IPL 2025 Mega Auction; Shepherd, Powell snapped up by RCB and KKR, respectively

Rutherford gets big payday from Gujarat Titans at IPL 2025 Mega...

Nov 26, 2024

  SportsMax – Guyanese hard-hitting left hander Sherfane Rutherford will get the opportunity to shine on T20 franchise cricket’s biggest stage once again after being picked up by the...
Read More
Roach and Seales star as West Indies close in on Antigua Test victory

Roach and Seales star as West Indies close in on...

Nov 26, 2024

Delroy Tyrrell continues to excel at Oneonta State University

Delroy Tyrrell continues to excel at Oneonta...

Nov 26, 2024

Ramdass Royals Crowned Champions of the Inaugural Windies Masters Cricket Extravaganza

Ramdass Royals Crowned Champions of the Inaugural...

Nov 26, 2024

KFC Guyana distance self from delayed payment of GFF Elite League prizes

KFC Guyana distance self from delayed payment of...

Nov 26, 2024

Ravens and Royals ready for epic Elite 16 final showdown

Ravens and Royals ready for epic Elite 16 final...

Nov 26, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]