$480M prison service headquarters commissioned

Aug 26, 2025 News

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Kaieteur News – The Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday commissioned the newly constructed $480M Guyana Prison Service (GPS) headquarters, which is now located at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

According to the ministry, the project forms part of a transformative milestone in modernising the nation’s correctional services.

Commissioning the state-of-the-art building was Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, Permanent Secretary Mr. Andre Ally, Director of Prisons (ag) Mr. Nicklon Elliot, and Deputy Director (ag) Mr. Kevin Pilgrim.

The prison headquarters which was situated at Brickdam, Georgetown is now located within the Lusignan prison compound and now offers significantly more space, allowing for expanded administrative operations, improved staff coordination, and closer integration of security and rehabilitative functions. “This strategic move strengthens oversight, enhances operational efficiency, and fosters an environment where safety, rehabilitation, and reintegration work hand in hand to reduce recidivism,” the ministry noted.

On Monday, the minister and his team also commissioned several major facilities completed at the Lusignan prison which is aimed at modernising the prison system.

These projects include six newly constructed cell blocks, which represents a total investment of over $2.2 billion, the ministry noted.

“Each block has been carefully designed to expand capacity, improve living conditions, and enhance safety and security throughout the facility. Beyond increasing space, the modern structures support effective management, facilitate staff supervision, and promote a more humane and orderly environment,” the ministry reported.

Outside of that, other supportive facilities which are aimed at equipping inmates with the skills and services essential for successful reintegration into society were officially commissioned.

According to the ministry, these include the trade shops for inmates which cost $54,399,009. This is aimed at providing practical hands-on training in various trades. There is the Infirmary Annex for $35,807,650 which offers improved healthcare services; and the vocational training school for $102,180,215, along with its supporting infrastructure and completion works which carries a price tag of $29,210,960.

The training school delivers a comprehensive education and skills development programmes. “Collectively, these initiatives demonstrate the government’s commitment to a holistic approach to corrections, fostering personal growth and actively reducing recidivism,” the ministry mentioned.

Among other facilities unveiled at the prison was a kitchen for $54,895,720, the female officers’ living quarters for $60,232,853; and the senior officers’ living quarters for $91,977,940.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Minister Benn said that the government’s efforts to revolutionise the prison system extend far beyond infrastructure. He emphasised that the ultimate goal is the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates into society, ensuring that correctional facilities play an active role in reducing recidivism.

“This new headquarters and the other facilities we are building here stand as a metaphor for transformation.

While we are putting in the physical infrastructure, the next big step is performance. We must carefully examine whether there is transformation in the types of crimes and in the individuals committing them and then identify the best results and approaches,” he said.

During his remarks, the minister urged prison officers to balance security with humanity and respect, stressing that he does not want prisoners to be beaten and that they must be treated with dignity.

He added, “The aim is to shift the service’s focus from simply incarcerating individuals to actively and conscientiously rehabilitating them.”

In his remarks, Mr. Andre Ally stated that the new headquarters is a strategic investment in both people and infrastructure. He explained that the facility not only provides officers with a better working environment but also fosters trust and cooperation between staff and inmates.

He noted too that the commissioning represents far more than the opening of a building; it is a reaffirmation of the Government’s commitment to modernising correctional facilities and creating environments that support rehabilitation and reintegration.

Director of Prisons (ag) Mr. Nicklon Elliot related that the correctional facilities must prioritise self-improvement and personal growth if rehabilitation is to be effective.

“Looking ahead, Mr. Elliot reaffirmed the prison service’s commitment to holistic rehabilitation and reintegration efforts, while calling on prison officers to play an active role in realising the government’s vision of a modern correctional system built on dignity, opportunity, and security,” the home affairs ministry reported.

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• commissioned, Guyana Prison Service, headquarters, Prison Service, Robeson Benn

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