Lusignan Prison upgrades: New block for high-profile inmates to tackle violence, gang formation – OIC

The Lusignan Prison capacity is set to be significantly increased by the end of the year and according to Officer in Charge (OIC) at the Lusignan Prison, Deoraj Gyandat this will be in the form of an additional two cell blocks which will be added to the prison shortly.
Gyandat made this highlight during a recent broadcast of Prisons in Focus, he explained that with the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) moving towards designating the Lusignan Prison as the central location for the prison service. Several investments have been made over the years to expand the structure’s capacity, as such he revealed that the prison’s capacity will be boosted with new blocks before the end of the year.

“So we would have apart from the three Cell blocks that would have been completed, we have slated for completion for this year Another two cell blocks, one of which would have already been completed. We are waiting on some few fine-tuning so that we can actually have that building being occupied. These buildings are designed with special cells from that was imported from a company in the United States of America steel cells. So basically, these cells were imported and we just had to basically assemble and build around the building to accommodate those cells,” he stated.
Moreover, the officer in charge highlighted that these new facilities align with the standards of modern correctional systems, allowing the GPS to better manage their prison operations. Additionally, he explained that in an effort to control violent outbreaks and the formation of gangs in the prison, one of the new blocks will be designated to specifically house high profile prisoners.
“One of the two blocks is one of the single Cell blocks which is the entire building which will house 50 inmates but these the 50 inmates will be in a single cell by themselves. So what that means is that persons who are high-profile, no longer would we have to get them in the general population, whereas they can cause harm to other prisoners or forming gangs. These are things that do happen in prison, so with the completion of that it would see us in a better position,” Gyandat stated.

Meanwhile, last year 689 incarcerated individuals were successfully relocated from the holding bay to the new Lusignan corrections facilities – a move which followed the completion of the three new state-of-the-art prisons. The new facilities were built in keeping with international requirements, and is a commitment of the Guyana Government and by extension the Home Affairs Ministry, following the destruction of sections of the Georgetown and the old Lusignan Prisons. It also forms part of the Administration’s manifesto promise to create safer prisons with improved conditions for both staff and prisoners. Prisoners are now housed in a dormitory-style setting furnished with beds and mattresses, unlike the holding bay facility. The facilities also feature a fire suppression system with adequate access to water.
This year, the GPS received a total of $6.5 billion, covering provisions for prison infrastructure and the training of prison officers. At Lusignan, East Coast Demerara (ECD), 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.