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Massive extension of Mazaruni Prison on the cards
– Feasibility study already completed
Monday’s riot at the Camp Street Jailhouse, which resulted in sections of the facility being burnt to the ground, would be the second such incident in 16 months.
An impression of what the new facility at the Mazaruni Prison will look like.
Questions have begun to surface over the implementation of recommendations that came out of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report, into the first fire in March 2016, which resulted in the death of 17 inmates.
Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, said yesterday that despite talks of not much being done to implement these recommendations, “a lot” has been done with some measures already in the chute.
He then revealed Government’s plan to construct a new prison at Mazaruni as part of an extension programme.
This project was initiated months ago with the award of a contract to carry out consultancy services for the design of the new structure.
This is being done in keeping with the CoI recommendations, he pointed out.
The Minister noted that $276M was budgeted in the 2017 National Budget, to initiate the first phase of the construction.
He said that immediately after accessing the funds, the government advertised for consultancy services for the design of the structure.
This service Kaieteur News understands was funded through a grant from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
This project however, hit a snag after, according to Ramjattan, no local company “qualified for the project”. This reportedly set back the overall objective to construct the new facility.
The project was later re-tendered internationally and a Trinidad company, VIKAB Engineering Consultant, won the contract.
Ramjattan said that the company has already submitted its design – which was subsequently given the green light from the President, David Granger.
The report submitted by VIKAB Ramjattan explained, entails the specifications that are needed to guide contractors, who will be desirous of submitting bids to construct the facility.
“This consultancy report will be submitted next week to commence the tendering process for contractors to commence construction…We want four contractors to work simultaneously on this project because it is a major, major project that we want done within the shortest and fastest time possible,” he noted.
Shifting back to the first phase of construction, Ramjattan expounded that the $276M will be spent to carry out the foundation works.
Additional funds will be allocated in the 2018 budget to carry out another phase, which will entail the construction of walls.
More allocations will be released from future budgets to complete the structure, the media was informed.
“We want a four-storeyed building but it will take some time; the construction and all of that. This will be a major, major piece of construction but it will start as of this year…I understand that the project will take some years and may cost in the vicinity of two billion dollars,”
Meanwhile, other works are being carried out at the Mazaruni Prison. Some $276M was allocated in the 2017 Budget for the construction of the administrative building.
Additionally, 12 houses will be constructed for prison officers.
Modernisation of Prison System
Speaking on the issue of modernising Guyana’s Prison System, Ramjattan reported that a consultant’s report has already been submitted.
This contract was awarded to a Jamaican firm, Dr. Trevor Hamilton and Associates.
“That was delivered. The first question that was asked was in relation to selecting one from five options: whether we privatise the prison system; whether we regionalise it; or a combination of both; and whether we keep it in (the) State’s hands with a Board of Governance,” Ramjattan disclosed.
He said that Government has opted for the governance structure (to be in State hands with a Board of Governors).
He noted that the new governance structure will require amendments to the Prisons Act – which is being worked on by Attorney-at-Law, Duke Pollard.
Ramjattan said that he has asked Pollard to complete his proposed amendments and it is expected to be submitted by the end of this month.
This system, he said, would have been tested in other jurisdictions.
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