Reduced overcrowding leading to fewer incidents in Guyana’s prisons – Official

Improved infrastructure and reduced overcrowding within Guyana’s prison system are contributing to fewer violent incidents among inmates, according to Assistant Director of Prisons (Operations), Deoraj Gyandat.

Speaking during a programme on Radio Eve Leary on Thursday, Gyandat acknowledged that the prison service previously struggled with severe overcrowding, particularly after the fire at the Camp Street Prison in 2017, which resulted in the deaths of 17 inmates.

“It’s no secret that the prison service had overcrowded prisons back in the days. With the burning of Camp Street Prison we had seen where we were at the holding bay at Lusignan Prison, it was very chaotic,” he said.

However, he noted that the situation has improved significantly in recent years, with fewer disturbances including prisoner-to-prisoner incidents are recorded across the prison system.

“Now you would have seen a decline in those such incidents and you are seeing more positives out of the prison. That is mainly because we don’t have an overcrowding situation,” Gyandat explained.

According to Gyandat, the development of additional facilities has allowed the prison service to better manage inmates and properly separate them based on their classification.

“One of the things that is very integral for prison is segregation. That is segregating prisoners according to their classification,” he said.

Gyandat explained that inmates are classified based on several factors including the nature of their crimes, their socio-economic background and the level of threat they may pose to other prisoners or the facility.

“With the new facilities we are able to segregate accordingly and because of that you are seeing a reduction in incidents,” he noted.

He added that rehabilitation programmes such as anger management and developmental psychology are also playing a role in improving inmate behaviour.

Gyandat also pointed to improvements among prison officers, explaining that staff are now better trained and equipped.

“Officers are more equipped with non-lethal weapons… prisoners see the change and the behaviour of the officers,” he said.

Gyandat believes the combination of improved facilities, better trained staff and expanded programmes is helping to create a safer and more structured environment within the country’s prison system.