Top prison officials urged to rethink approach to prisoners

…as Benn calls for more humane inmate treatment

Recognising that prisoners are often treated significantly worse that other demographics in society— a call to action was made for prison officers particularly those in high positions to re-evaluate their approach when dealing with inmates.
On Friday the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) hosted its annual Chief Officers’ Conference. This two-day conference brings together senior officers and stakeholders in the correctional system to review achievements, address operational challenges, and plan strategically for the year ahead.
The conference agenda includes reviews of the 2024 performance, work plans for 2025, infrastructure and operational updates, and strategies to enhance inmate welfare and corrections. Themed sessions and working groups are expected to set the tone for reforms aligned with the GPS’s mission of fostering safe, modern, and rehabilitative correctional environments.

Speaking at the opening ceremony was Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn who highlighted that for decades persons within the prison system are oftentimes treated in the most inhumane ways. However, as the country continues its prison development agenda Benn stressed the importance of prison officers finding better avenues to manage persons within the system.
“We cannot develop if we don’t respect each other and care for those who fall off, if we don’t bring them back to a position where they could be safe, where we could turn them out wholesome, or even if we have to keep them forever. To make the society and the communities and even themselves safe, we cannot continue in a vein of cruelty to ourselves and our people. The mission of the prison service is to secure those persons who pose serious risks to the society, to themselves, and their community, and to turn them out better persons and useful persons in this society.”
Minister Benn added, “So we have to be able to change the approach and the mindset of the prisoners, but the change we want to see in the prisoners and in the prison, system is a change that has to come from us.”
Meanwhile, also delivering remarks at the opening ceremony was Director of Prisons Nicklon Elliot who revealed that most prison incidents occur due to a lack of standard operating procedures (SOPs). As such he urged the seniors present at the event to ensure that they are well rounded and au fait with the various practices and procedures needed to smoothly run the prison system.

“Changing culture and mindset for corrections and that’s why you are the driving force for the enforcement of SOPs. You are the ones who work daily in the prison operations. You are the one who understand what is required from the prison routine and that’s why as you meet today, as we discuss the fundamental thing that you need to understand is you need to change your culture and your mindset.”
“You are the ones who’s supposed to be setting the right standard at your level. You are the ones who’s supposed to be ensuring that those below you understand what is required. If you don’t understand what your basic role and function is, it’s a difficult task for you. Once you understand that, it therefore means it puts you on the platform to be the driver, to be the enforcer and when you look at all the incidents that occurred over the period, it is because of lack of enforcement of those SOPs and regulations.”
In early 2025, the prison population in Guyana was 2,032 inmates. Women made up a small percentage, with 69 incarcerated. The Ministry of Home Affairs reported a significant increase in prison population, reaching just over 2,000.
Moreover, the GPS over the years has prioritised rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates into society through various training and development programmes. These programmes focus on skills development, literacy, and psychological support to equip inmates with the tools they need for a successful transition back into the community.