On Tuesday, the Director of the Guyana Prisons Service reported that lawmen were hunting an individual who attempted to smuggle a large quantity of narcotics, tobacco leaves, mobile phones and other contraband into the Lusignan Prison Holding Area.
He said that the incident occurred in the wee hours of the morning after prison officers observed the man acting in a suspicious manner at the north-eastern section of the penitentiary’s holding area, by prison ranks.
The media was told that when the ranks realised that the man was in the process of throwing a black plastic-wrapped parcel over the fence, they discharged rounds at him, but he somehow managed to make good his escape leaving the parcel behind.
This incident is occurring just one week after Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan had expressed absolute anger at the upsurge in cases regarding the smuggling and attempted smuggling of contraband into prisons countrywide.
Minister Ramjattan to his credit was even quoted as stating frankly: “You get angry at what’s happening, you feel a sense of despair, but really it just goes to show the quality of some of our prison officers that allow that to happen.” He had also indicated that he has been having discussions with the Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, so as to have funds allocated in the next budget presentation for the purchasing of scanners. He intends to have these installed at the entrances of each prison.
The truth is, the situation within the Guyana Prison Service and security sector has deteriorated under the watchful eyes of the A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change coalition Government despite the fact that this Administration has access to, and comprises, far more individuals who are security experts when compared to its predecessor, the People’s Progressive Party.
Minister Ramjattan must understand that his Government has to toughen its stance on the smuggling of narcotics and contraband into the prison system by strengthening the penalties associated with those crimes. Higher fines and longer prison sentences cannot be discounted.
Also, the Government must pay thought to implementing a better system of vetting and promoting officers who serve within the Prison Service. Maybe, there is need for those in authority to relook at the working conditions and salaries paid to those within that law enforcement body. More training and human resource development courses are also recommended as a means of changing the behavioural patterns of prison officers who are lured into colluding with prisoners to make a big buck or ‘fast cash’ while within the walls of the prison.
If Minister Ramjattan is interested in his tenure and the reputation of the Government, he would also consider transfering top prison officials and perhaps even asking for the resignation of the current head of the establishment to allow for the appointment of newer and more independent leadership.
A robust civil society effort must be led which will see stakeholders from sides of the divide conducting more routine searches and raids of the prison facilities. Government must also look at the integrity of the officers serving within the prison systems and the relationships that exist between wardens and hardened criminals. Both parties must be read the riot act and special emphasis must be placed on shaking up the establishment in order to make way for Government, Police and intelligence Informants to enter the system and work as undercover agents or double agents in order to understand how the smuggling of contraband takes place.
If any other disaster breaks out, Minister Ramjattan may find it necessary to tender his resignation. Integrity would demand it, because it would appear that he is unable to grasp the importance of his portfolio and the fact that he will be judged by the number of policy initiatives that would have been successfully piloted and implemented within the Prison Service, which in turn led to measurable benefits and reforms.
