A standoff at the Georgetown Prison was yesterday defused after Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan and Minister of State Joseph Harmon met with protesting inmates to address their grievances and avert an escalation.
One day after 17 inmates perished in a fire that was set during a protest, Ramjattan identified the members of the Commission of Inquiry that will investigate their deaths and the causes. Hours after meeting with inmates, he also announced that Deputy Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels had been sent on leave in the wake of complaints received. He announced too that prisoners would be allowed an extra telephone call each week and the quality of meals served at the facility would also be addressed. A meeting is also planned with acting Chancellor Carl Singh to address complaints about the sloth of the judiciary that prisoners blame for their lengthy incarceration.
Earlier in the day, members of the Joint services were forced to use tear gas and fired pellets to get the prisoners out of the Capital A building, where a fire was lit around 7am. The fire was quickly extinguished. A fire at the building caused the fatalities on the previous day.
The prisoners yesterday also kicked out an already weakened wall located at the southern side of the building. Some prisoners were seen on the roof of a building in the compound holding various implements.
Seven prisoners were subsequently rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) for injuries they sustained. Two of them were said to be in critical condition. Five prison officers were also taken to the
