Latest update November 5th, 2024 1:00 AM
Armed police ranks to beef up security in Camp St. Prison
– as Prison Wardens stay away out of fear
Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President David Granger has ordered reinforcement in the form of the joint services to secure the Camp Street Prison, as the situation there is threatening to explode, with wardens
Seated from left: Col. Khemraj Persaud; Col. George Lewis (partially hidden); Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; President David Granger; Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo; Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud; Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan; GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Mark Phillips and Major General (ret’d) Michael Atherly at the Ministry of the Presidency yesterday.
staying away out of fear for their lives.
The President yesterday convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee at the Ministry of the Presidency to discuss recent developments at the prison, where only two out of the 15 Prison Officers scheduled for the day shift, reported for duty yesterday morning.
According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency, Director of Prisons (Ag) Carl Graham has since sought reinforcements from the Timehri and Lusignan Prisons and from the Administration Division at the Camp Street Prison in an effort to keep the situation under control.
The Committee was informed that since the deadly prison riot in early March, inmates have become bolder and much more aggressive, displaying weapons and acting menacingly towards prison officers.
As such, the officers have become fearful to carry out their duties. This is suspected to be the reason behind 13 officers submitting seven-day sick leave certificates.
The National Security Committee was also informed that there has been an increase in cases of marijuana being thrown over the prison fences and wardens are afraid of being harmed by prisoners, who are under the influence of the drug.
According to a source in the Camp Street prison, the situation has become messy to the extent that prisoners are spitting on wardens and even throwing feces and urine on them.
The source said that prisoners have even threatened to rape female wardens.
“They are walking around with jookers in their waist, their cell phones and ear pieces in their ears making calls in front of you. Smoking marijuana free, free,” the source said.
“Persons are throwing it over the wall. As recent as yesterday (Wednesday) a sentry on Bent Street had to fire a round off to stop things from throwing over,” the source added.
Just last week a Prison Warden was seriously injured after he was attacked by inmates.
In light of the current situation, President Granger has ordered that the outer cordons of the prison be extended to include D’urban, John and Bent Streets, which will be blocked off to the public except for persons residing within those areas, as is done on Camp Street.
Additionally, the Commander-in-Chief has directed the Guyana Police Force to assist Prison officers in manning the Camp Street facility and the Guyana Defence Force to assist in guarding the outer cordons of its precincts.
This newspaper was reliably informed that armed ranks from the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) of the Guyana Police Force will support the Prison Wardens inside of the Camp Street Prison.
An official from the TSU said that he does not know long the arrangement will be in place.
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