Venezuelans are largest group of foreigners in Guyana’s prisons

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn on Wednesday revealed that Venezuelan migrants comprise the largest group of migrant prisoners in Guyana’s prison system.
As it stands, a total of 2,240 males and over 60 females are currently incarcerated in prisons across the country. And of that number, some 23 Venezuelan nationals are serving time for crimes committed, ranging from the possession of illegal firearms to ammunition and narcotics, as well as murder, among other crimes.
During the end-of-year press conference of the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday, Benn said Venezuelans are the largest growing inmate population in Guyana when it comes to foreigners.
“Momentarily…perhaps as a result too of the influx we’ve had, that they have been the fastest growing section currently in the prison populations in terms of foreign nationals,” the minister said.
He also said the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will continue to work cohesively with the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.

Avoiding recidivism
Benn said work will continue to train and reintegrate inmates into society when they have served their sentences.
“We have said our approach is different. We don’t want prisoners beaten, we want them to be more engaged in their own self-development, self-improvement and rehabilitation. We want them to eat better, we want them to have more family visits…,” Benn has said.
He mentioned a shift in Government’s approach to the prison system this year. The focus now is on avoiding physical punishment for prisoners, and encouraging their active participation in self-development, self-improvement, and rehabilitation.
With approximately 28,000 Venezuelan migrants currently residing in Guyana, the minister recognized their primary motivation for coming to the country as securing employment to provide a better life for their families.

Avoiding incarceration
While praising the 17 per cent reduction in overall serious crimes in 2023, the minister emphasised the need for collaboration of Ministries to address specific incidents reflecting broader issues of crime, violence, and security.
He mentioned that there will be a shift in the approach to the prison system this year. The focus now, the minister said, is on avoiding physical punishment for prisoners; rather, their active participation in self-development, self-improvement, and rehabilitation will be encouraged.
Among other initiatives planned for the prison system for 2024 are: providing better nutrition; facilitating more family visits; constructing educational facilities for regular and vocational education; and addressing the issue of prisoners sleeping on the ground at the Lusignan Prison.
Efforts are ongoing to enhance safe housing for prisoners, with two more modules planned, Benn said as he reiterated that a new prison is under construction at Lusignan specifically for female inmates. The minister also recommitment to improving conditions at the New Amsterdam Prisons.
The Mazaruni Prison is nearing completion of overdue modules, expected to finish in the first quarter of 2024.
Changes in incarceration procedures are also anticipated at Timehri, Benn added, saying that there has been a significant shift involving mandating that 50 per cent of prisoners’ food be grown by them, promoting self-sustainability.
The Prison Service has also initiated a fresh start programme in which suitable prisoners will be provided with resources to start a small business upon release, with the aim being to reduce recidivism.
Minister Benn has acknowledged the considerable work ahead, but has expressed determination to make substantial improvements in the prison system this year. (G9)