Lusignan Prison faces rehabilitation challenges due to high influx of remanded inmates

The Lusignan Prison, East Coast of Demerara (ECD) is facing significant challenges in its rehabilitation efforts due to the high number of remanded inmates housed at the facility.

The prison’s rehabilitation programmes, which are designed primarily for convicted prisoners, often miss their mark with those awaiting trial, according to the Senior Superintendent of Prisons and Officer in charge of the Lusignan Prison, Deoraj Gyandat.
“One of the major challenges as it relates to rehabilitation at the Lusignan Prison is that we have a large number of remanded prisoners, and the main focus of our rehabilitation programmes is to concentrate more on convicted prisoners,” Gyandat explained.
“The larger portion of remanded prisoners are sometimes released on bail and so on, and on many occasions, you really don’t get to capture them in your rehabilitation programmes. For that specific reason, we don’t include them because we never know when a person will get bail, and because of that, they will not be able to complete the programme.”
Gyandat highlighted that the unpredictable nature of remanded prisoners’ stay makes it difficult to engage them in consistent rehabilitation efforts. He noted that while convicted inmates have fixed sentences that allow for structured planning, the transient status of remanded prisoners means they could be released or transferred at any time, disrupting their participation in any ongoing programmes.
“It’s better for us to get the prisoners who are doing a sentence; we know their time, and we can plan their rehabilitation accordingly.”
The Lusignan Prison’s rehabilitation programmes are aimed at providing inmates with skills, education, and psychological support to help them reintegrate into society successfully.
However, Gyandat emphasised that these programmes are most effective when there is a clear timeline to work with, something that is rarely the case with those on remand.
“When a person comes in on remand, there’s always a chance that they’ll secure bail or have their charges dismissed,” he said.
This focus on structured rehabilitation for convicted inmates aligns with Guyana’s broader strategy to overhaul its correctional system. Recent reports indicate that in 2024, as many as 1,600 prisoners across the country will undergo specialised training designed to enhance their skills and prepare them for successful reintegration into society.
This initiative is part of a comprehensive plan to shift the emphasis from mere incarceration to rehabilitation, equipping inmates with the tools they need to contribute positively upon release.
The investment in state-of-the-art prison facilities, such as the new units at Lusignan, underlines the commitment to creating environments conducive to rehabilitation. These upgrades, along with ongoing projects at other facilities like the Mazaruni and New Amsterdam prisons, aim to provide a more supportive infrastructure for implementing effective correctional programmes.
By centralising operations and enhancing training and educational opportunities, the prison system hopes to better manage inmates’ time and help reduce recidivism rates.