Three civilians join prisons recruitment board

The introduction of a civilian component to the Guyana Prison Service Recruitment Board saw three persons being added yesterday.

Patricia David, Deborah Lewis and Zafar Ali have been added to the board where they will serve with Deputy Director of Prisons Malcolm Mc Andrew and Officer in Charge of Welfare and Corrections Rev Faye Clarke. This development came about as a result of the recommendations made by the parliamentary oversight committee on the security sector, a release from GINA said.

Home Affairs Clement Rohee welcomed the civilians who will be responsible for reviewing applications and support documentation submitted to the board by the recruitment team and ensuring that job specifications for the positions for enlistment are met.

The committee will also be responsible for interviewing applicants, making recommendations and overseeing other issues as they relate to the employment of skilled and semi-skilled persons to the Prison Service.

Rohee said his ministry recognized that the need for this type of reform to establish a recruitment board which is broader than what existed before. Previously, senior ranks of the prison service were interviewing persons and making a distinction on whether or not they are suitable. “…What we have now is a number of civilians who indicated their willingness to serve on this recruitment board, together with representation from the GPS,” Rohee said.