Transformational Construction Efforts at Mazaruni and Lusignan Prisons Nearing Culmination

Significant construction endeavours at the Mazaruni and Lusignan prisons herald improved living and operational standards for inmates and personnel alike. Presently, the Mazaruni Prison undergoes an expansion initiative, marked by the erection of a new edifice dedicated to housing detainees. To fortify security measures, the erection of gates and fences at Mazaruni, a project now in its penultimate phase, will conclude in the ensuing weeks. This seeks to bolster the infrastructural framework of the correctional facility conducive to the welfare of occupants and custodians alike. Rehabilitation efforts extend to the perimeter fence and watchtower nearing 70% completion. Simultaneously, reconstruction endeavors are underway for the officers' mess, a project which has attained a 20% completion rate with a budget allocation of $57 million, aimed at providing recreational amenities for both senior and junior staff members. The expansion of Lusignan Prison encompasses the development of six cutting-edge penitentiary sections. Noteworthy progress has been achieved on lots one through three and six, all now operational. Lot four is currently in an advanced stage of construction, poised to meet completion targets in due course. This will also comprise a vocational institution within the prison premises, envisioned as a pivotal avenue for equipping inmates with diverse skill sets, thereby mitigating recidivism rates within the correctional facility. Progress also unfolds at the 'Holiday Bay Facility’ which will provide inmates with access to vocational programs surrounding auto mechanics, joinery, tailoring, and carpentry. Infrastructural enhancements extend to the establishment of the Infirmary Annex, senior officers' abodes, overhead water-storage facilities, and water treatment plants, all operational and contributing to heightened operational efficiency. In the fiscal year's budget allocation, the Guyana Prison Service was endowed with a substantial sum of $6.5 billion, dedicated to the realisation of strategic objectives aimed at the welfare of both inmates and personnel alike.

Source(Image: John Gimlett, Ref: Department of Public Information (2024))

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8 Apr 2024 04:00 | by anaraine

| Health, Safety, Security, Environment and Standards