The Ministry of Legal Affairs yesterday handed over a speedboat and a 200-horsepower engine, valued at some $8 million, to the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) in an effort to boost the Service’s operational efficiency, a GPS release stated.
In a handing-over ceremony held at the Parika Police Station, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Adele Diane Tricia Cole-Clarke, presented the speedboat and engine valued over $8 million to Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary stated that the donation is part of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)-funded Support for the Criminal Justice System (SCJS) programme, which was launched in Guyana to reduce overcrowding in prisons. Further, it is intended to lend support to the plans of the prison service, since the service is a central part of the criminal justice system.
Meanwhile, the Prisons Director expressed confidence that the addition of the new vessel will significantly boost the capacity and capabilities at the Mazaruni prison, especially as it relates to responding to emergencies and transporting prisoners to and from the prison, especially for medical attention.
Project Manager of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Indira Anandjit, highlighted the IDB’s significant contributions to the GPS over the years and thanked the Bank for its commitment to enhancing equity, efficiency, and transparency within the Guyana’s criminal justice system.
According to the release, the GPS recently received over $30 million worth of information and communications technology (ICT) equipment under the Support for the SCJS programme. This included provisions for a new Mental Health Unit, the training of 60 Prison Officers in Mental, Neurological Disorder, and Substance Abuse Disorders First Responder Training programme, and other essential tools and equipment aimed at improving operational effectiveness.
