The Guyana Prison Service (GPS) on Saturday commissioned a $118 million vessel to transport prisoners.
The ‘ML Troy W’ will soon transport prisoners to the Mazaruni high-security prison.
In presence of family members of fallen prison officer Troy Williams, for whom the boat was named, the vessel set sail in a ceremonial trip along the Demerara River.
Williams, then 21, died in the infamous Republic Day jailbreak that occurred at the Camp Street Prison in 2002, during which he was stabbed several times and fellow prison officer Roxanne Winfield was shot to the head. She remains paralysed, and has lost vision in her right eye.
The ML Troy W set sail in a ceremonial trip on Saturday
Acting Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, recalled arriving at the prison where he witnessed what happened to his colleagues. He related that in the midst of the chaos that ensued, his colleague had attempted to look out for the security of fellow ranks.
“Despite being stabbed multiple times, he didn’t give up. Officers who were on duty on that day would tell you that he did everything possible to ensure that that division remained secure,” Samuels highlighted.
Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan declared that while the boat’s name celebrates the life of Troy Williams, it also highlights that Government is rebuilding the Prison Service’s infrastructure, which suffered a significant setback with the Camp Street flattening last July.
The boat was built by the Guyana National Industrial Company (GNIC). The twin crew passenger/cargo vessel has accommodation for 80 passengers above the main deck, as well as a 60-tonne cargo space below the main deck forward of the engine room.
The Prison Service noted that this vessel has been designed for harbour and riverine service in Guyana.
