Security lapses chasing away investments in Guyana – PSC

Prison fires

… chides Govt for failing to hold any officials accountable

It is almost as if the country has settled down to a state of normalcy, despite the upheavals back in July when the Camp Street Prison was razed and over a dozen high profile inmates escaped. But the business community has reported that they are still dealing with the fall out.

Members of the Private Sector Commission with Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and other officials

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) had raised its concerns with President David Granger, who then referred them to Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan. Following a meeting with the Minister earlier in the week, the Commission revealed that due to the security lapses, tourism and investments into the economy are suffering.
Public confidence in security, according to the Commission in a statement after the meeting, is worsening due to the fact that no official, at any level, has even been held accountable and charged for the prison fire and escapes.
“The Commission emphasised the serious damage that these events have caused to investor confidence here, at home and abroad, and to tourism and underlined the fact that scheduled business visits from abroad and planned events have either been postponed or relocated,” they stated.
The Commission further expressed its concern over the inability of the Police to effectively curb the incidence of violent crime reaching into business places and homes across the country. “Our citizens, the Commission stressed, are now living in a constant state of fear.”
The Commission noted that acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine, in responding to their concerns, had promised that a Police investigation into the fire was underway. He had told the business executives that the probe would soon be completed.
“The Minister acknowledged the need for the urgent restoration of public confidence in the security and safety of our prison system and was open and frank in addressing the challenges faced by the country from the threat of violent crime. The Minister assured the Commission that every effort was being made to recapture the escapees who are still at large and to return the situation to normalcy,” the PSC said.
According to the PSC, Minister Ramjattan informed them that “gross overcrowding neglected over a long number of years will demand substantial sums of money not readily available to construct a new and expanded system sufficient to accommodate the present prison population.”

Confidentiality
The business body noted that a “comprehensive and confidential brief” was provided on the current steps being taken to improve the prison system. The Minister also shared with the Commission Government’s plans for the construction of a modern facility in the Mazaruni.
When it comes to the status of the prisoners, including those who are still at large, the PSC was also given a confidential brief. According to the Commission, Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, made a comprehensive statistical presentation which covered the current and historical status of prisoners both in the system and at large.
“The Commission strongly recommended to the Minister that he make the presentation public since it would go a long way towards reassuring the public that the authorities were in control of the situation,” the PSC stated.
On the question of rehabilitation of convicted prisoners, the Minister and his team also outlined the significant efforts and arrangements in place, in spite of extremely limited resources and space, to ensure that released prisoners were able to be gainfully employed on their reintegration into society, the PSC said.
According to the Commission, however, the Minister lamented the fact that ex-convicts generally have a hard time reintegrating because the stigma attached to ex-convicts makes it difficult to find employment for them.
A total of 19 prisoners escaped in two separate jail breaks over the course of weeks. When the smoke cleared, however, all but four were recaptured. Those still at large are Uree Varsyck, the Camp Street inmate who is alleged to have shot and severely injured prison officers; Royden Williams, who had been on death row for the Bartica Massacre; Cobena Stephens; and Paul Goriah.