Prisoner found dead at Lusignan Prison

A prisoner who was on remand for murder was found dead in the washroom of Building #3 at the Lusignan Prison, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Saturday afternoon, officials confirmed.
The inmate, identified as Feroze Bhagwandin of Lot 3617 Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), was discovered at around 14:15h.
Prison officers on duty raised an alarm and rendered immediate assistance before summoning medical personnel.
Medical staff at the facility responded promptly and confirmed that Bhagwandin was unresponsive.
The police were called to the scene, and the inmate’s body was subsequently escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was officially pronounced dead by Dr Baksh.
Authorities have since reported that no marks of violence were found on Bhagwandin’s body.
According to the Officer-in-Charge of the Lusignan Prison, Bhagwandin underwent a medical and psychological assessment when he was first admitted on August 8, 2022. He was not deemed at risk for self-harm or suicide, and there were reportedly no concerns for his welfare at the time.
Police and prison officials have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. A post-mortem examination is scheduled for next week to determine the official cause. The inmate’s sister-in-law has since been contacted and is expected to notify other relatives.
In a statement, the Office of the Director of Prisons expressed condolences to Bhagwandin’s family. The Inmates’ Welfare Department, along with the prison’s administration, will be offering support to the grieving relatives during this period.
This time last year, a similar incident occurred which claimed the life of Lindon Lamaizon, who was convicted of ‘causing death by dangerous driving’ in 2021. He was found dead in his cell, Unit #3 at the Lusignan Prisons.
According to a statement from the Guyana Prison Service (GPS), officers on duty were conducting a routine check when they observed that Lamazon was unresponsive during the roll call.
The nurse on duty immediately examined him for blood pressure and pulse but was unable to obtain readings. Doctors later pronounced the inmate dead.