Georgetown: Two inmates at the Lusignan Prison Holding Bay were shot dead and five others injured on Saturday after a protest resulted in a visit by the Ministers of Health and Homes Affairs after protesting meals and COVID-19 within the prisons.
The dead inmates were identified as Earl Graham, 51, who was sentenced to three months imprisonment for Malicious Wounding, Assault and Resisting Arrest and Winston Herbert, 21, who is in custody for Rape.
Five other inmates were injured, two are at the Georgetown Public Hospital and three at the Lusignan Prison, and they are listed as stable.
Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels said the protest was brought to the attention of the facility administrators who engaged the prisoners to hear their concerns and to address those where possible.
However, Samuels said the prisoners refused to engage the administrators and demanded to see the Minister of Home Affairs.
“This standoff continued unto 12:30 hrs but when attempts were made to distribute the midday meal and the prisoners continued their refusal and increased their demand to see the Minister,” the prison director said.
He explained that this resulted in a visit from Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn and Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony at the prison at about 13:15 hours.
“The ministers were loudly cheered and welcomed on entering the facility. They commenced a discussion with nominated representatives of the prisoners from Holding Bay two. During this engagement all the prisoners appeared calm and those being engaged appeared receptive,” the director said.
Concerns, he explained surrounded extensive timelines between court hearings and remand, among other issues, were raised with the Ministers who committed to address those within their scope but also informed the prisoners that the ability to address the issues within the remit of the courts was outside their authority but would be brought to the attention of those with those responsibilities.
“The issue of overcrowding and the risk of exposure to the COVID 19 pandemic, due to recent positive test returns amongst inmates, were also raised. The response was generally well received, but during the subsequent discussion by the Ministers with inmates of Holding Bay one some prisoners from Bays two, three and four became aggressive and began throwing missiles which caused the Ministers to end engagement and exit the confines of the compound,” the Directors of Prisons said.
After the Ministers exited the main gate, he said the situation rapidly degenerated and became riotous with some prisoners scaling the inner fence of the Holding Bay, thus entering the restricted area, and launching attacks on the prison officers within the compound who had to flee to safety.
“After the officers left the main compound, the situation rapidly deteriorated into mass disorder with inmates rushing the main gate in a bid to break same. In response to situation, and in a bid to contain same, ranks posted within the towers discharged several shots in the general direction of the gate which resulted in the injury of seven inmates and restoration of relative calm to the situation,” Samuels said.
Following the return to order, the director said that the injured prisoners were extracted and initially attended to by medical personnel on the ground, after which two were sent for further treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Three inmates continued to be attended to at the Lusignan facility while two were pronounced dead.
You must be logged in to post a comment.