GPS shifts from punishment to rehabilitation – Director tells judiciary during tour

The Guyana Prison Service (GPS) is undergoing a significant transformation that signals a major shift in the country’s approach to incarceration, with greater emphasis being placed on rehabilitation, reintegration and the restoration of human dignity rather than punishment.
This is according to acting deputy Director of Prisons Kevin Pilgrim, who outlined the transition on Wednesday during a visit by a high-level judiciary delegation to the Lusignan Prison. He explained that while the reform process is still underway, it is an important turning point in Guyana’s criminal justice system.
Pilgrim said the prison system is moving away from a model traditionally centred on punishment toward a correctional approach designed to better prepare inmates for successful reintegration into society.
The judiciary delegation, led by acting chancellor of the judiciary Justice Roxane George, visited the prison to gain first-hand insight into the institution’s environment as well as the operational and administrative challenges faced by the Guyana Prison Service.

Also participating in the visit were acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh, Justices Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and Nareshwar Harnanan, Puisne Judges Sueanna Lovell, Mandisa Breedy, Christel Lambert, Renita Camelle Singh, Sunil Scarce, and Azeena Baksh.
The delegation also comprised Acting Registrar Collene Liverpool, Deputy Registrars Alicia Lowenfield and Tamika Barkoye, Judicial Research Counsel Dominque Wilson, Protocol and Communication Officer Otecia Niles, and Assistant Protocol and Communication Officer Bhanmattie Ramdial.
The visiting officials were welcomed by Director of Prisons Nicklon Elliot, who underscored the importance of continued collaboration between the judiciary and the prison system.
Pilgrim also provided an overview of the GPS’s transformation from 2010 to 2026, outlining the reforms that have been implemented as part of efforts to modernise the country’s correctional system.
Acting Chancellor Justice George welcomed the engagement and reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to maintaining close collaboration with the GPS.
During the visit, the delegation toured several facilities at Lusignan Prison, including the site of the new administrative building, virtual courtrooms, the kitchen, medical centre, trade shop, prisoners’ housing facility, inmate intake processing area, and command centre.
The visit is part of efforts to strengthen cooperation between the judiciary and the GPS while providing judicial officers with a better understanding of prison operations and the evolving correctional framework.