Inmates in prisons across Guyana will now have the opportunity to connect with relatives and partners through recently installed phone systems.
A GTT release yesterday announced that prisoners will now be able to maintain meaningful contact with their families as Barbados-based Corrections Communications has installed over 30 phones within the local prisons.
The communications company has recently collaborated with Mobile Money Guyana Inc (mmg+) and the Guyana Prison Service to provide convenient ways for family and friends to top up inmates’ phone credit accounts in prison.
Corrections Communications is a Barbados-based company that provides innovative communication solutions in prison settings across the Carib-bean. It designs, installs and maintains communication and media services at no cost to the prison and correctional services, or the taxpayer.
According to the release, over 30 phones have been installed in the Timehri prison while the installation of some 50 phones is underway in the New Amsterdam prison. The company has indicated that it will work in the coming months to install more phones in the other prisons.
Since the collaboration, mmg+ has brought the company on board as a new biller within its app which will allow persons to purchase phone credit for their relatives in prison. Each inmate will have an account set up which will facilitate calls to pre-approved numbers.
“This is a unique medium to allow persons to stay connected with their relatives in prison. I guarantee that the mmg+ service will provide absolute convenience to both parties, since sending funds to the account can be done within mere seconds from a mobile device or an mmg+ agent anywhere in the country,” explained mmg+ General Manager, Bobita Ram.
Commenting on the system becoming live at the Timehri prison, Corrections Communications Caribbean Manager, Ed Wozniak, spoke of his company’s expertise in providing the innovative communications solution within the local prisons.
“Our company was founded by prison professionals with many, many years’ experience working in the field. We are committed to working with prisons to provide communication solutions that will allow prisoners to maintain their ties with family and friends. We believe this is beneficial for the prisoners and their families and for the development of a safer society.” Wozniak was quoted as saying.
He added, “Allowing prisoners to have access to telephones is no longer a privilege. It is an essential element in supporting prisoner rehabilitation, reducing stress and maintaining good order in the prison. Research across the world has shown convincingly that successful reintegration reduces subsequent re-offending and this will lead to a safer Guyana. This system will allow prisoners an easy and affordable means to connect with their families and friends.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot, lauded the two companies for collaborating with the local prisons in providing the service.
He expressed the hope that this new method will reduce the number of illegal phones found within the local prisons. “We are delighted to have this new system implemented in our prisons, especially considering the COVID-19 pandemic. I believe this will reduce the number of persons visiting the prisons daily to connect with their relatives… Over time, we have seized a number of illegal phones within the system as many of the prisoners tried to communicate with their families, so we look forward to that number being reduced and to this organized system and all it has to offer”.
Persons who are interested in utilising the new service can access more information via Corrections Communications’ website – www.advanced-com.com.
