Inmates continuing to engage in criminal activities while incarcerated – Benn

The challenge of crime remains ever-present, particularly when it comes to transnational criminal activities, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, stated on Thursday.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the Guyana Prison Service senior officers’ conference, Benn acknowledged that the nature of crime has evolved, with inmates continuing to engage in criminal activities even while incarcerated.

“The nature of crime has changed and the result means that there are a large number of people, the profile of criminal activities and the crime they do are different, and the people, men and women in prison, seem invested in criminal activities,” Benn said.

“We are not catching all of them; we are doing much better than most places.”

This year’s conference, held under the theme “Changing mindsets and culture for corrections,” highlighted the ongoing challenges facing the Prison Service, particularly in relation to transnational organised crime. Benn emphasised that these crimes – including the importation of firearms, drug trafficking, and murders – extend beyond the Caribbean and have grown more violent over time.

“The issue of transnational crime is perhaps the most violent in the world today,” he stated.

Given the “difficult” circumstances, Benn outlined the importance of rehabilitation in the prison system, ensuring that inmates are prepared for reintegration into society upon their release. Supporting this initiative, Director of Prisons (ag), Nicklon Elliot, reported a 14 percent reduction in recidivism rates for 2024. Additionally, over 800 inmates have benefitted from training opportunities provided by both internal and external trainers.

Currently, the Guyana Prison Service oversees more than 2,000 inmates across its facilities, with plans for further improvements in infrastructure. “Facilities were enhanced, and new ones were built or are still under construction,” Elliot said.

Benn concluded by reiterating his belief in the potential for change within the prison system, stating, “I keep saying the people in the prisons were not born like that.”