Leaks in the roof of the Georgetown Prisons

by Stacey Davidson
Guyana Chronicle
October 18, 2000


DESPITE the extra precautions taken at the Georgetown Prisons, leaks still in the system allow prisoners to continue their parade on the roof.

In the latest roof escapade Monday, six inmates found their way to the top of the complex to parade for hours in the hot sun.

They were properly dressed for the outing as photographs show and strategically positioned themselves near a water tank on the roof to ensure there was no shortage of drinking water on a hot day.

Their fellow inmates on the ground inside the compound also passed them bottles of water during the seven-hour exercise.

All of this showed that some degree of planning went into their pulling off this latest caper from within the jail.

At first, prison protestors used to clamber up for solo performances against delayed trial and other grouses.

Now it has graduated to a group show.

The six protestors claimed they have been in the prison too long without trial and as usual, the roof top show got top billing in some media.

There was also the usual crowd that found time to stand and stare at the rooftop protest.

At least one of the Monday demonstrators had been on the roof before and the frequency of these excursions on the roof of the prison has to be cause for worry for the wider society.

The leaks in the roof have not been fully plugged and the authorities would clearly have to assess the situation.

One prisoner slipping on to the roof now and then to demand a faster trial or better food had become commonplace in recent years.

But six in a coordinated stint before the authorities could stop them is another matter and the situation warrants a closer look.

Director of Prisons, Mr Dale Erskine yesterday said efforts are being made to look into the question of long delays in trial for prisoners.

But the men on the roof Monday have been charged with serious crimes - murder and robbery - and as Mr Erskine noted, these proceedings take time.

Chancellor of the Judiciary, Mr Cecil Kennard said Monday that the Judiciary is in crisis because of a lack of legal personnel and urgent steps are needed to correct this situation to make for an improved judicial system.

He said that with each attempt to fill vacancies, it seems "we are digging one hole to fill another."

There is a shortage of judges and magistrates, he said, and the officers manning the system face a huge backlog of cases.

These are concerns that have to be addressed in the bigger picture and efforts are under way to fill the gaps.

The more immediate concern, however, has to be the situation at the Georgetown Prisons.

Mr Erskine said the men gained easy access to the roof Monday because renovations are being done on parts of the building and acknowledged that security has to be tightened.

Those charged have a right to trial in reasonable time but other citizens also have a right to feeling more secure from sources of danger.


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