Relatives of Lusignan prisoners decry conditions at jail

By Shemuel Fanfair

Family members of the prisoners relocated from the Camp Street penitentiary to the one at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara have on Wednesday decried the conditions that obtain at the Lusignan Prison, and have expressed disgust that the police have moved back the check-in point, thereby preventing them from seeing their loved ones.

Guyana Times understands that the police have received instructions to limit the number of persons approaching the Lusignan Prison, including media operatives. The relatives of the prisoners complain that they were standing in the sun for long

periods, waiting to take in meals, water and toiletries for their incarcerated loved ones. A few who arrived in the early daylight hours were briefly permitted to pass the cordoned-off area. They, however, allege that staff members at the penitentiary were rude, and that the inmates are being treated poorly.

“I put in food for me brother, and they had it on top the table baking in the sun, and when I go an asked the [female] prison warden where the food [is], she turn and say: ‘We eat it,’ and she bused me,” a female relative of a prisoner claimed.

Another woman, whose nephew is a remand prisoner, echoed similar sentiments of disgruntlement. She indicated that she also had experienced ill-treatment at the prison. She decried the manner in which the prison warden had inspected the sealed bottled water she had taken for her nephew, and alleged that the staff sniffed the liquid. She called on prison staff to embrace professionalism.

“If they are the professionals, they’re supposed to behave in a professional manner to the public. We are the civilians. Show people some kind of respect; we have concerns because those people in there are our family and they are human beings,” the woman angrily stated.

Other relatives explained that their loved ones are sleeping in conditions filled with

mud and water. It was noted that prisoners who did not partake in eating beef from the cow that fellow inmates had slaughtered for meat were reportedly “left to suffer”.

Some family members told Guyana Times that they want from prison officials answers regarding how long the prisoners would be forced to endure present conditions at the Lusignan Prison, and for how long prisoners would be incarcerated there. This newspaper was informed that there are insufficient beds for prisoners to sleep upon, while bed sheets are going missing.

Of particular concern is the location of this East Coast Demerara facility. Some family members of prisoners said they have been travelling from as far as Parika, on the East Bank of Essequibo, and Yarrowkabra on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway. They claim it is difficult to travel from such far distances only to be compelled to stand in the blazing midday sun, and still be disallowed from seeing

their loved ones.

Over the last few days, more than 60 inmates who had been charged with petty crimes have been granted bail and their released pending trial, but some relatives are up in arms over sentencing for smaller offences, saying that prisoners should be fined for certain categories of crimes.

A female relative of a prisoner who has been sentenced to 18 months for stealing 4 articles of clothing and a mobile phone has said that her incarcerated family member should have been ordered to pay a fine instead.

Meanwhile, Oswald Benjamin, father of prisoner Larry Da Silva, has said it is unfair that his son has been remanded since February 9 for charges relating to a fight and subsequent escape from arrest. The father claimed that his son was lawfully released after three hours of interrogation, only to be picked up a few days later by police.

“They treating people like animals inside there. The authorities got to speed up and get the people children out of this mess, it ain’t nice at all!” Benjamin expressed.

The Sunday afternoon fire has reduced the Camp Street jail to virtual rubble and has forced law enforcement ranks to transport inmates by truck loads to Timehri, Mazaruni and Lusignan, where the bulk is housed under tents, exposed to the elements.