Hunt for prison escapees…‘We are not out of the woods yet’ – Ramjattan
Aug 01, 2017 , http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....woods-yet-ramjattan/
Despite the successes over the weekend by the joint services in capturing some of the prison escapees, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan is urging Guyanese not to relax. There are still four escapees to be apprehended.
Ramjattan expressed this position yesterday during a press conference at his Ministry’s boardroom on Brickdam. In the company of Acting Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine and Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, Ramjattan asked for the members of the public to continue being vigilant and to report all information to the police.
“I further plead with the family members, relatives, friends and associates of those on the run to turn them in if they are in contact with them or know of their whereabouts. Of course, if you are caught harbouring them you will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law.”
He added that the Guyana Prison Service with the support from the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force, have also been vigilant in maintaining order at all the prisons and ensuring that any attempt of plotting an escape is thwarted.
“Nothing is being taken for granted and the security is being further beefed up to ensure that the integrity of the prison is high and safety and good order prevails in the society. So Citizens can feel some heightened sense of security. I want to say that certainly we are not out of the woods. We have lots of work to do.”
According to the Minister, work still needs to be done to capture the remaining four escapees. They are Paul Goriah, Mark Royden Williams, Uree Varswyck and Cobena Stephens.
Ramjattan repeated that it is members of the public and the tremendous information that is being supplied to the joint services that is aiding authorities in recapturing the escapees.
Meanwhile, following the incident at the Lusignan Prison whereby prisoners had started to riot, the Prisons Director informed that one prisoner was injured to the extent that he had to receive medical attention. During that incident, Samuels said that three improvised weapons were found in the possession of prisoners.
Moreover, as it relates to the injured prison officers following the July 9, 2017 Georgetown Prison Fire, Samuels said that he visited the officers who relayed some details of what took place that day.
“Last Saturday I visited six of the injured officers. I managed to get a very detailed account of most of what transpired on July 9. Many of those officers would have already given statements to ranks at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and I am quite sure the police will be acting on the information received.”
He said that some ranks that were injured are still visiting the CID giving statements. According to Samuels, the investigation is in a better position because persons that could not have been pressed for information due to their medical state can now provide statements to the police.
As it relates to the pistol that was reported missing at the Georgetown Prison after the fire, Samuels said that the weapon has not been recovered. According to him, it may be that the weapon was destroyed or due to the exercise to remove debris from the location, the pistol could have been moved undetected in the rubble. However, he did say that efforts were made to find the weapon at the location.
The prison system was criticized for being understaffed. On this note, Samuels said that efforts are currently being made to recruit prison officers. He said that a number of persons have already been interviewed by the recruitment board.
He said that the persons are on stand-by to begin training when the situation allows for this kind of activity.
