Regional delegation praises Lusignan Prison for modern facilities, rehabilitation programmes

Officials from the Caribbean attending the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) Senior Correctional Officers’ Conference 2026 have lauded the Lusignan Prison for its modern infrastructure, robust rehabilitation programmes and advanced use of technology, describing it as a model for the region. Delegates from St Kitts, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Suriname, and the United States (US) Virgin Islands toured the facility, noting improvements in inmate management, vocational training and officer development. Acting Commissioner of Correction in St Kitts, Spencer Isaac said the prison was “fantastic” compared to facilities back home.
“The structure is very secure, a steel prison that has been shipped to Guyana. One cell holds 15 inmates, whereas back home, cells can hold up to 32. We have proper rehabilitation programmes and officer development programmes, and honestly, I would love to have a structure like Lusignan Prison in St Kitts,” Isaac said. Acting Senior Superintendent Sean Bacchus from Trinidad and Tobago praised the use of technology at the prison.
“The security measures are very modernised and technology is integrated into monitoring all inmates and officers. I must commend the director on this move toward a modern facility, and it’s something I will take back home,” he stated. Additionally, Coordinator of the National Security Programme at the University of the Southern Caribbean (USC), Dr Raghunath Mahabir, highlighted the prison’s vocational training.
“I saw prisoners involved in masonry, carpentry, welding and other trades. It’s a good start to the rehabilitation programme and reintegrating individuals into society,” he said. “We saw them not just as inmates, but as future contributors to Guyanese society.” Other delegates echoed the sentiment, noting the Lusignan Prison’s clean, well-organised facilities, fire-retardant mattresses, virtual courtrooms and expansive administrative and observation areas. Senior Correctional Officer King John from Grenada observed, “Your prison is modern and has enough space to run a variety of rehabilitation programmes. The commissioner invests in his staff, which builds morale, something we are looking to do as well.”
Senior Superintendent from Suriname, Molall Imran added, “The planning for the next five years at Lusignan is impressive. The technology, the infrastructure, and the programmes for prisoners are inspiring. I look forward to seeing the progress in the future.” The Lusignan Prison on the East Coast Demerara (ECD) has been at the centre of a major modernisation push by the Government of Guyana, which has committed significant resources to upgrading the country’s correctional infrastructure and rehabilitation services. In August 2025, the Government commissioned a new GPS Headquarters and multiple facilities at Lusignan, including expanded cell blocks, trade shops, a vocational school, healthcare facilities and modern staff quarters, a project forming part of a multi‑billion‑dollar investment aimed at strengthening security and reducing recidivism.
The relocation of the GPS headquarters from its former Brickdam site to Lusignan is intended to improve administrative coordination and integrate security with rehabilitative functions. Officials have said these developments are a shift in the country’s prison service toward prioritising humane treatment, vocational training, and reintegration of inmates into society. In the 2026 National Budget, the Government of Guyana earmarked $6 billion for the GPS to continue its comprehensive transformation, infrastructure upgrades and correctional reforms.
Of this total, $1.5 billion is allocated specifically for further infrastructure improvements at prisons, including Lusignan. Additionally, about $141.8 million has been set aside for advanced training, covering prison management, human rights instruction for officers, and vocational training programmes for inmates to support their reintegration into society. The training component aims to equip roughly 400 officers and 1,500 inmates with skills in areas such as carpentry, block‑making, and behavioural development.