President pardons 5 women for Christmas

Five female prisoners ages 24, 27, 37 and 54 have been granted Presidential Pardons for Christmas.

The women, Shabana Asgar, Shellon David, Ronella Junor, Maxine Baird Sampson and Reina Vargas are all prisoners at the New Amsterdam Prison.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Public Security, the prisoners have each served a portion of their respective sentences for offences ranging from larceny, fraud and giving false oath.

“It is expected that this expression of compassion and humanity by His Excellency will result in families being reunited, and the pardoned offenders leading good and useful lives here on,” the statement noted.

The Presidential Pardons will take effect on December 25, 2017.

Earlier this year, the President pardoned a total of 14 female prisoners, also from the New Amsterdam Prison, who would have served a portion of their respective sentences for offences including larceny, fraud and assault causing bodily harm.

In 2015, 40 prisoners received Presidential Pardons for Guyana’s 49th Independence anniversary and 11 for that year’s Christmas.