Pres. Ali unveils ‘Prison Avoidance System’

Mar 17, 2026 News

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…as govt. takes steps to tackle crime before it starts

(Kaieteur News) – President Irfaan Ali on Monday announced plans to introduce what he described as a “prison avoidance system,” aimed at preventing crime before offenders enter the correctional system.

The initiative was unveiled during the Senior Correctional Officers Conference of the Guyana Prison Service at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. Addressing local officers and visiting delegates, President Ali said the time has come to rethink the role of the prison system, shifting the focus from simply incarcerating offenders to preventing criminal behaviour in the first place. “Rehabilitation is important,” the president said, “but before we even get to prison, how do we avoid getting there? That is the question we must answer.”

The President explained that over the last five years systems and leadership have been integrated, building on the successes of each other, as that is the only way the multifaceted nature of future challenges can be confronted. The first few minutes of his address were spent outlining how the government in collaboration with the GPS plans to go about creating an institution that is not just reactive but also plays a proactive role, based on decades of experience in shaping communities.

“Therefore, I wish to address some long-term strategic issues that will redefine and realign the Guyana Prison Service, with heavy focus on a prison avoidance system, and I want us to take note of that. How do we build a prison avoidance system? We talk about rehabilitation, which is important, but before we get to prison, how do we avoid getting there?” he asked.

The Head-of-State highlighted that given that the environment youths are growing up in is changing, along with the access to various opportunities and technology, there is greater connectivity with gangs and other forms of ill-conceived societal claims.

He said in addressing this issue, a prison avoidance system will be developed in the coming weeks, and will be led by a team of specialists. With the help of data-driven research, the team will be addressing ways of strengthening the security sector as well as ensuring the GPS plays its role as a critical part of the country’s overall security framework. President Ali reminded that the GPS is not inferior to any of the other security agencies, whether it be the GPF, GDF or the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) as it has its part to play in the integrated security architecture of our country.

“As pressure grows in other large economies, criminal networks are pressed. When they are pressed, they look for new grounds. You have to identify where those grounds are, and here in Guyana, we know with the growth in the country, there is a natural attraction,” he added.

Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond said that government has made it clear that the national security institutions must evolve and modernise around the country. “The Guyana Prison Service is no exception, for too long in many societies, correction is treated as the forgotten arm of the justice system, a place where people were simply locked away and forgotten, but modern governance demands something different,” she said. She said that tune has changed as it is now understood that correction is a critical component of national security, social stability and public safety, and whatever occurs within the walls of correctional institutions, has a direct impact on what happens on the outside in communities. “If prisons only punish, crimes return, but when persons are rehabilitated, reformed and reintegrated, communities become safer. This is why the Government of Guyana remains committed to modernising the Guyana Prison Service with policy reform, with institutional strengthening and investment in infrastructure and people,” the minister added.

She said that the GPS has been on a journey to be transformed into “a Correctional Service that is professional, accountable, secure, rehabilitative…”   Turning her attention to rehabilitation, she said it is not a weakness, rather it is a Smart Security Policy, yet there are too many times where rehabilitation and security strategies are often wrongly presented as opposing ideas. They are in fact two sides of the same strategy as security without rehabilitation creates a revolving door, and rehabilitation without discipline creates instability. “

Director of Prisons Nicklon Elliot said discussions during the conference will focus on areas such as technology integration, security intelligence, training and education, prisoner reintegration outcomes and legislative improvements. Participants will also examine the impact of imprisonment, international law relating to the use of force, and human rights in correctional settings. He added that the forum will allow officers to network with regional correctional specialists and share best practices in prison and correctional management.  The conference will conclude on March 20.

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• crime prevention strategy, GPS, Prison Avoidance System, senior officers

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