The Guyana Prison Service (GPS) is reinforcing its commitment to rehabilitation by prioritising the training and development of its ranks as a central part of its operational strategy.
Scenes from GPS muster last week
This was underscored during the quarterly muster and general inspection last week at the prison’s headquarters, where Director of Prisons Nicklon Elliot encouraged officers to fully utilise the various training and developmental opportunities available through the service.
According to the strategic plan of the GPS, human capital is essential to maintaining daily operations. Among its eight strategic pillars, “Enhancing Human Resource Management and Development” ranks are the top three priorities.
Management continues to focus on boosting the GPS’s capacity to rehabilitate and reintegrate law offenders by improving the skillset of its personnel. Training is seen as a key tool in achieving this, with the administration committed to ensuring that in-service courses are regularly offered to help maintain and strengthen officers’ professional capabilities.
This recent emphasis comes amid a period of administrative revitalisation within the GPS. In 2024, more than 400 officers were trained across various disciplines, including human rights practices, first-response mental health care and correctional education. According to official reports, the Prison Trade Instructor Training Programme launched in partnership with the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) was the first of its kind in the Caribbean aiming to equip prison officers with formal teaching credentials.
These advancements are backed by significant Government investment. Last year alone, over $5.5 billion was allocated to the GPS, billions of dollars directed to infrastructure improvements at key facilities such as Lusignan and New Amsterdam. The upgrades were aimed at not only improving inmate housing but also boosting the working conditions of prison officers.
Elliot’s comments last week further cement the administration’s shift toward a long-term development model that prioritises institutional resilience through human capital investment.
While the GPS continues to grapple with issues common to correctional systems, including overcrowding and security challenges, it said that its internal approach is increasingly centred on leadership, competence, and sustainability.
