A fire which started following discontent among prisoners over the seizure of a quantity of marijuana this afternoon destroyed the old wooden Lusignan Prison facility and has left about 280-300 inmates dislocated, de facto Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan said today.
None of the inmates has escaped and they are currently in an open area at the facility under heavy guard. Eight prisoners were said to have sustained various injuries.
“I received calls from both Director of Prisons Mr. [Gladwin] Samuels and Police Commissioner Leslie James that the old building of the Lusignan Prison was on fire and subsequently that it seemed that the entire building was destroyed,” Ramjattan told Stabroek News when contacted.
“”There apparently was a discovery of a quantity of marijuana and after that there was an argument among inmates; seems the persons who owned the marijuana, and others. It was during that [argument] that the fire started. Nobody was hurt or no one escaped…,” he added.
He said that the Fire Chief and fire crew are trying their best to contain the blaze.
This newspaper understand that prison guards immediately sprang into evacuation mode as since the fatal Camp Street prison fire there had been a number of drills for inmates and wardens.
Ramjattan said that the security force is now tasked with finding accommodation for about 280-300 prisoners. “The entire thing is destroyed so we have to find accommodation for about 300 prisoners…,” he said.
The police this afternoon issued the following statement:
“Following a report of narcotics found about 12:45h today at the Lusignan Prisons and the subsequent activation of a search by an investigative team, some prisoners from the same facility began rioting.
“As a consequence the relevant joint services protocol was activated. Joint Services ranks were able to contain the riot and escort most prisoners from the Lusignan Prisons to nearby facilities.
“The situation is contained at this time and logistics and other systems are being implemented.
“The fire is completely extinguished and several inmates who sustained injuries are receiving medical attention.
“There are no reports of death or escape at this time.
“A further update will follow”.
