GPS transforms with $5.5B budgetary allocation

In a significant move to address the long-term needs of the security sector, the Government having allocated $5.5 billion to the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) for 2023 is now seeing the development and transformation of the funding.

Mazaruni Prison Phase II nears completion
Among the noteworthy developments, the Mazaruni Prison stands out with diverse initiatives aimed at enhancing infrastructure, living conditions, and overall functionality. The construction of Mazaruni Prison Phase II, a key project costing over G$700 million, is at an impressive 85 per cent completion. Additionally, the extension of ten living quarters for prison officers, valued at over G$89 million, is at an advanced 95 per cent completion, while the Phase II fence construction is nearing finalisation at 95 per cent completion, with a cost exceeding G$66 million.

New Amsterdam Prison upgrades
The New Amsterdam Prison is witnessing an overhaul with a multibillion-dollar project divided into ten lots. Significant progress has been made in Lots 2, 4, and 5. Lot 2 involves constructing Male and Female Living Quarters with a budget exceeding $114 million. Lot 4 focuses on the Officer’s Sports Club reconstruction, allocated over $50 million, while Lot 5, dedicated to the Reception Building, commands a substantial budget of over $413 million. Lot 1, involving Senior Officers’ Living Quarters, is in the mobilisation phase, ready for imminent commencement.
Lots 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are also in the mobilisation stage. Lot 3 includes the construction of a kitchen and storage bond, while Lots 6, 7, 8, and 9 encompass critical aspects such as the infirmary annex, an overhead storage tank, a treatment plant, reconstruction of solitary and cell blocks, and a training facility for inmates in Lot 10—vital components for enhancing the prison’s infrastructure.

Lusignan Prison expands
At Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, the Government is actively expanding the prison facility to accommodate a greater capacity. In 2022, over $3 billion was invested in upgrades and expansions, including the completion of six state-of-the-art prisons, currently housing close to 1000 inmates.
The ongoing expansion project features a vocational school, aiming to provide inmates with training to reduce recidivism and enhance their skillsets. Other upgrades include a female prison, staff living quarters, an Infirmary Annex, a new headquarters building, and the construction of the outer perimeter fence, collectively contributing to the comprehensive transformation of the Lusignan prison facility.