To enhance the livelihoods of prisoners and prepare them for life after being released, the Government has budgeted the sum of $6.2 billion for the Guyana Prison Service this year.
This reflects a slight decrease from the $6.2 billion expended in 2024.
Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh made this announcement on Friday during his presentation of the 2025 National Budget.
According to Dr Singh, the government has invested heavily in upgrading all of the prisons across the country upon assuming office in 2020.
In doing this, he said the Lusignan Prison was made the country’s primary correctional facility. There, the facility was reconstructed and trade shops, a vocational school and other modern amenities were added.
The Mazaruni Prison was also reconstructed with key infrastructural upgrades where done at the New Amsterdam Prison through the completion of officers’ living quarters, sports club, infirmary annex, kitchen, vocational school and storage and training facilities.
In terms of training, a sum of $140.2 million has been budgeted to train 400 ranks in prison management techniques to enhance their skills in security, rehabilitation, and inmate management.
Further, 1,600 inmates will benefit from academic, behavioural modification, technical and vocational training this year to prepare them for the reintegration into society upon their release.
“Mr. Speaker, Government remains committed to providing opportunities for successful inmate rehabilitation by implementing impactful programmes to decrease recidivism rates while simultaneously improving the overall function of the prison system,” Dr Singh said.
