On Sunday, October 16, 2022, the Honourable Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Robeson Benn, Permanent Secretary Ms. Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas, Director of Prisons (ag), Mr. Nicklon Elliot, and Staff from the Ministry of Home Affairs, visited the Mazaruni Prison as well as the Bartica Police Station and Fire Station.

The visit provided a first-hand preview of the condition of the facilities, finished and ongoing capital projects at the Mazaruni Prison and projects slated for rehabilitation and construction at the Mazaruni Prison and the Bartica Police Station and Fire Station.

The Honourable Minister, Permanent Secretary and the team was given a walkthrough of the various projects, which included:

• An accessway to the Mazaruni Prison. This project was started in January by Navin and Sons Construction and concluded in August.

• A water treatment plant with a reservoir was constructed at the Mazaruni Prison to ensure that clean and safe water is provided to inmates and staff. Over G$14M was expended on this project which is now at practical completion.

• Building Two, Mazaruni Prison was also inspected; works on this project are still ongoing.

A walk-through was also conducted at building one, Mazaruni Prison. This is a new state-of-the-art Prison facility. According to Mr. Elliot, this new prison will improve security, welfare and accommodation for prisoners. It will aid in adequately segregating prisoners based on their offence and length of sentence. The new facility is also in keeping with international best practices, he added. Mr. Elliot also indicated that building one will be in operation soon.

Other projects highlighted for rehabilitation and construction during the visit to Mazaruni Prison were:

• The rehabilitation of the administrative building. This building is a historical building established in 1887. The rehabilitation works on this building will be done in accordance with CHAPTER 20:03. NATIONAL TRUST ACT 7 of 1972, to restore and preserve our national heritage.

• The Construction of a security fence and watch tower for building one, Mazaruni Prison.

• Rehabilitation of the wharf

• Construction of a chicken pen for 2,000 chickens

• Enclosure of the lower flats to living quarters.

Minister Benn, Ms. Toussaint Jr. Thomas and team visited the prisoners housed at Sibley Hall. Mr. Benn checked in on their welfare and talked with them. He indicated that Sunday’s visit was just a quick one to examine the facilities and the conditions.

Mr. Benn assured them that the Ministry, with support from our Government, is working hard to improve the conditions. “I know it’s slow, and you are experiencing that slowness. However, what we want is for you all to, when you leave here, you should be sufficiently trained and disciplined. To have useful working lives back with your families, and we don’t want any of you coming back here for any reason”, he stated.

Minister Benn went on to say, “we want you all to have better ambition, vision and behaviour to avoid arriving in these conditions”. “We don’t want this for any of our people, so we are asking that you have a bit of patience while we work at the issues and the problem”, he asserted.

He further stated that there were Engineers and Managers and others from the Ministry and the Prison Service looking at the issues to find the best possible solutions and to see what improvements are needed.

“We don’t like the conditions you’re under, but this is where we are at now, and we are working to improve it. So I’m just asking for you all to be more patient, more disciplined and respect each other and the Officers so that we could move ahead”, Minister emphasized.

After his talk with the inmates, Minister Benn, Ms. Toussaint Jr. Thomas, Mr. Elliot and team visited the kitchen, where they inspected and sampled the meal served to the inmates. They expressed their satisfaction with the quality of the meal and discussed an agricultural improvement plan.

Currently, the Mazaruni Prison has a livestock farm where cows, sheep and chickens are reared for domestic use. There is also a vegetable farm, fruit orchard and bee keeping. However, they are looking to expand the livestock and vegetable farm since the produce is insufficient for the number of inmates and Officers. The Ministry stressed the need to have the Prison self-sufficient. They also discussed ways to improve veterinary care and increase breeding for cows and sheep.

The visit to the Mazaruni Prison ended after Minister Benn also inspected the recruits who are currently being trained on-site.

At Bartica, Minister Benn, Ms. Toussaint Jr. Thomas and team visited the Bartica Police Station, where they inspected the building. Regional Commander, Mr. Dion Moore gave them a walkthrough and highlighted areas for repairs.

They also visited the newly commissioned Computer Centre, which is located in the upper flat of the Police Station. There, Officers and members of the public will benefit from computer training. The Centre will also be used to conduct the drivers’ theoretical exam.

A visit was also conducted at a plot of land at Mongrippa Hill, opposite the Bartica Magistrate’s Court. This site is earmarked for the decentralization of the Guyana Police Force Command Centre. This is part of the Safe City to the Safe Country expansion project.

Another visit was done at Second Avenue. To the extreme corner, a plot of land with a derelict three-story wooden building. This site is earmarked for the construction of the Regional Division #7 Headquarters.

Minister Benn, Ms. Toussaint Jr. Thomas, and team also made an impromptu visit to the Bartica Fire Station. Some areas for rehabilitation were also highlighted at this facility.