Mentally-unstable inmates to be housed separately

The Guyana Prison Service is moving to house mentally-unstable inmates separate from the general prison population until a hospital-like facility can be built to hold them, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee has said.

The Georgetown Prison was the scene of a deadly prison brawl last month, during which one such inmate, Solomon Blackman, was battered to death by infuriated prisoners in the capital offences dorm moments after he fatally stabbed fellow inmate Dewan Singh. Blackman, a double murder accused, had been deemed insane by the prison’s physiatrist but was returned to the general prison population after he showed signs of improvement following medical treatment.

Rohee told a news conference yesterday that some adjustments are being made to accommodate mentally-unstable prisoners separately, until they can be relocated outside of prison. He said that such prisoners will not be able to mix freely with the rest of the prison population, even though they may be showing signs of improvement.

He reported that there are about 20 prisoners suffering from “usual behaviour,” which may not be serious enough for them to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Additionally, he disclosed that treatment has been increased following last month’s killings. Rohee also informed that there are plans to build special accommodation to house this category of prisons. “It has to be hospital-like, because if you keep them locked down, they could get worse,” he explained, adding, “The advice we have gotten for that category of prisoners is that it cannot be the same type of cells like a hardcore or those dangerous criminals.” According to Rohee, the prisoners will be housed in accordance with the directives of Dr Bhiro Harry, the prison’s psychiatrist and other medical personnel. Currently, mentally-unstable prisoners are held in separate cells, cells with other prisoners and some are mixing with the ordinary prisoners in dormitories. Rohee did not say when the project to construct the new facility will begin, or where the proposed site is located.

Making reference to Blackman, the minister stated that the prisoner was taking his medication and returned to normalcy and he was thus deemed fit to return to the prison population. Asked if he had received reports that the prisoner had threatened to kill prior to the incident, Rohee said that he was informed of occasional outbursts. Nevertheless, Blackman was allowed to dwell among the other prisoners.

Rohee said that he questioned why Blackman was not monitored closely or the outburst used as a signal that caution needed to be applied. “But I am not sitting in the prison everyday or the physiatrist is not sitting in the prison every day. You pay people to do a job and you expect them to do it responsibly but you know sometimes we have these lapses and then you would also say if ah din know,” he added.

‘Jookers’ and
cell phones

Meanwhile, Rohee noted that the presence of sharp implements (what he dubbed “jookers”) and cellular phones within the prison is a serious concern that the prison administration is constantly working on. “I said that before and I will say it again, a prisoner will always find something to protect himself, herself with. You see, when you go in, if you don’t fall in with crowd …the boys, girls will give you a hard time. You have to be a conformist; you have to be part of the prison physiology.  There is a lot pressure in there,” he added.

Rohee admitted that like other institutions, the prison service continues to face challenges, including the constant threat of a breakout. He stated that specific reforms are being carried out within the prison and in the prison compound, including construction of over 20 strong cells to house dangerous prisoners. He said there were significant improvements in the prison system last year and more will be done to enhance its operations. He cited improvement in medical care for prisoners, including the establishment of a Dental Unit, enhancement of the security and surveillance capacity at all prison locations to make them more secure and the execution of many capital building projects.

The movement of all first-time offenders between 18-30 years, to the Lusignan Prison, greater emphasis on training inmates with the expansion of trade-shops and the provision of classroom facilities at prison locations and an increase in the training of prison officers in a variety of disciplines, were other notable achievements during last year.

Additionally, Rohee said the Ministry is still continuing to put lots of emphasis on agricultural production to help bring down dietary costs while continuing to ensure the prisoners are well provided for.

He noted that at the same time there is an obligation to use the estates of the prison to cultivate as much as possible in order to make the institutions self-sufficient. A large poultry farm was established at the Lusignan Prison; a bio-gas digester was constructed at the Mazaruni Prison, and a fish pond was established at the same location, as part of the projects executed by the Prison Service in its agricultural development programme. The prison service has also established its first canine section, which would be useful for recapturing escapees of the Mazaruni, Lusignan and New Amsterdam prisons.

Among this year’s projections are the continuation of the modernisation of the Prison Service, with emphasis on corrections and the rehabilitation of prisoners and the operationalisation of the Guyana Prison Service training school. Enhanced security at all prison locations with assistance of the joint services will also be addressed.