Police to seek designated area for prisoners on Essequibo Ferry – Commander

Following concerns expressed by some passengers travelling with the Essequibo ferry service, who feel threatened by the decision of the Guyana Police Force to have prisoners sit with civilians when being transported to and from court in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Police Commander of G Division (Essequibo coast-Islands), Superintendent Kevin Adonis said a request will be made to the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) for a designated area to be made available on the ferries for the transport of prisoners.

Guyana Times reported that on Monday that prisoners were placed in seats next to civilians. Passengers related that the prisoners entered the vessel with shackles on their feet and were placed to sit next to them. This caused much concern among some passengers, who told this publication they saw this move as a “security risk”.
During interviews with this newspaper, some passengers suggested that a section on the ferry be reserved for the prisoners when they are being transported to and from court. They have even suggested that the Guyana Prison Service provide special vehicles – Police or river taxis – to transport prisoners, or even have that area barred off.

However, Superintendent Adonis said that an alternative will be sought in partnership with the T&HD.
“What we have to do is to talk to the transport administration to have a designated area when we are having a large amount of prisoners to transport,” Adonis noted.
“We have to speak to the transport administration (T&HD) when we transporting prisoners, where to have them, because it is a passenger ferry and we have to place them (prisoners) in an area where they will have seats and so on, we can’t place them downstairs where the vehicles would be,” he explained.
The Commander also urged person using the ferries not to become alarmed since the persons being transported are some who may be on remand for minor offences.
“We don’t have no harden criminals, we don’t have any high profile,” he assured.
“First of all we don’t have a large amount of prisoners like some other divisions. We might only have about three, four, five. That’s what we transport. If we get in excess of five, that is where the Magistrate will just remand for a week beset of their behaviour and they are not harden criminals, they are for minor offences,” Superintendent Adonis noted.
He also assured that the inmates are usually escorted by armed Policemen and urged civilians who may feel uncomfortable to exercise better judgement and not sit in close proximity to the prisoners.