861 prisoners graduate after completing training in various fields

A total of 861 inmates from the Mazaruni, New Amsterdam, Camp Street and Timehri Prisons have graduated after completing training courses in various programmes aimed at preparing them for reintegration into the society.

Those trained included “high profile” and “special watch” inmates, the Guyana Prison Service stated.

Convicted and remanded prisoners were also given an opportunity to participate in the training.

The areas of training were in  entrepreneurship, anger management, carpentry and joinery, family reconciliation, tailoring, culinary arts, art and craft, cosmetology, barbering, crop husbandry and veterinary Sciences.

Director of Prisons (ag) Nicklon Elliot said the Prison Service has an obligation to provide prisoners with skills to facilitate their reintegration into society. He said the the prison’s task is to help the inmates realise their mistakes and become better individuals, the Prison Service stated.

Elliot further stated that the prison directorate remains confident that as the prison infrastructure continues to be developed, more prisoners will benefit from such rehabilitative training.

He made it clear that rehabilitation of prisoners is an ongoing process.

“We are adequately preparing them whether it is with skill or educational training so that when they are released back into society, they are productive citizens,” Elliott stated.