Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Robeson Benn made an impromptu visit on Sunday, September 11, 2020, to the Lusignan Prison, where he saw firsthand several projects being undertaken at the location.

The Minister was given a progress report on the status of the new Prisons which are currently being constructed in the Lusignan prison Compound.

The $1.2 billion facility is a commitment of the PPP/C Administration, following the destruction of sections of the Georgetown and the old Lusignan prisons, resulting in a fluctuating population of 625 inmates occupying the ‘Holding Bay’ area per day.

It also forms part of the administration’s manifesto promise to create safer prisons with improved conditions. Upon completion, Lots 1-3 will house approximately 1000 inmates.

However, as part of its continuous improvement, several other projects are moving apace. The Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, recently awarded several contracts to a number of local and international businesses equating to over GY$607 million for infrastructural works.

Those projects were also inspected by the Minister, which includes the vocational school for inmates, the construction of Steel Cells to Lots 4, 5 and 6, the construction of the Female Prison, Infirmary Annex, Overhead Water Storage Tanks and Water Treatment Plants, Living quarters of senior officers and Security fences.

Additionally, the Minister was briefed on the agriculture programme at the location, which not only provides inmates with the opportunity to be skilled in farming but also in animal husbandry.

Currently, chickens, ducks, pigs, sheep and cows are reared at the Mazaruni, New Amsterdam and Lusignan prison locations.

In Addition, the GPS has a productive egg hatchery at the Lusignan Prison, which produced close to 1000 trays of eggs thus far for the year.

Further, new baking facilities were also recently installed at the Lusignan Prison, and Minister Benn was given a firsthand look at its operation by the prisoners.