Inmates and officers build respect, discipline through sports and shared activities

The Guyana Prison Service (GPS) is using sport and shared activities to break down barriers and build respect between officers and inmates, fostering discipline and teamwork as part of its 42nd anniversary celebrations under the theme “Changing Culture and Mindsets to Achieve Corrections.” Assistant Superintendent of Prisons, Twain Hemerding, who serves as the Service’s sports officer, explained that the sporting competitions are not merely about recreation, but about shaping better relationships within the prison environment. “Coming out of this competition, we would usually showcase an officer team,” Hemerding said. “Whether it be in the cricket competition or the football competition, that would play within the competition with the inmates. So, they get a chance to not only compete among themselves, but also compete among the officers.”

He added that the games foster important values that extend beyond the field.
“Within the sports, you have to have the discipline to participate,” he continued. “So, it builds the respect. It builds the role model effect of the inmates looking up to the officer and seeing a shining example in which they would like to go out and continue being law-abiding citizens.” The month-long observance includes cricket, football, chess, dominoes and other extracurricular competitions across the country’s prison locations. The Service also introduced a cooking competition this year, ensuring that all officers and inmates can take part in some way.
“We now have a cricket competition, a football competition and a cooking competition,” Hemerding said. “So, who cannot run, but they can cook, we have something for you… We just want all the officers to be a part of any of the event, come out, participate, and build camaraderie among their fellow peers.” Beyond the athletics, other inmate-centred programmes such as poetry, motivational talks, and essay writing aim to encourage self-expression and confidence. Officer in Charge of Welfare and Corrections, Tessa McGarrel, said these opportunities are designed to bring meaning and purpose to daily life behind bars. “Rather than having them in the cell all day, we bring them out,” she explained. “They do recreational activities… motivational talks among themselves. Even the staff would go and have conversations with them.” She said that both inmates and officers benefit from the shared experiences: officers model discipline and empathy, while inmates learn teamwork and responsibility—skills that help prepare them for reintegration into society. “We are able to bring about that change within them,” added Assistant Director of Prisons (ag), Olivia Cox. “We’re not celebrating prison; we’re celebrating the fact that we are able to bring about that change within them.” The Service hopes that such initiatives, supported by structured sports and social activities, will continue to strengthen relationships and create a culture of respect across Guyana’s correctional institutions. “We are one prison service,” Hemerding said. “We are not at different locations; we are one.”