Boxing gear for Guyana Prison Service

By Treiston Joseph

The Ministry of Social Cohesion through its Department of Sport on Thursday aided the development of sport within the prison system by donating a quantity of boxing gear to the Guyana Prison Service.

The simple presentation was done at the Prison Service Sports Club. Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility of Sport, Dr. George Norton, noted the importance of the gesture.

“First of all it is good that the Government can take this kind of approach to persons who are incarcerated, persons who are in the prison system; I say this because we have to give the opportunities to those persons to adapt to a healthy lifestyle and to make better use of their life,” Dr. Norton noted.

Dr. Norton also shared that boxing holds a special place in Guyana’s sporting history because of the 1980 Olympic bronze medal, which was had by Michael Parris. It remains the country’s lone medal at the Games.

Director of the Prison Service, Gladwin Samuels, shared that the donation is extremely timely as the Prison Service Sports Club is in rebuild mode. He thanked the Government for the support.

“In reality boxing has helped to instil discipline because when some of the guys enter the ring, after a couple of sessions they become more focused and this will aid the Prison Service.

“The Guyana Prison Service on that 2017 Camp Street Prison break we lost most of our equipment that was donated by a top insurance company so this will start that process again and we hope corporate Guyana can see this and chip in,” Samuels shared. 

Meanwhile, Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, was also in attendance and said the National Sports Commission did not hesitate to come on board because of the diverse talents that exist within the Prison system. 

Among the items donated were boxing gloves, head gear, punching bags, weights and gym bikes.