NEW GPS HEADQUARTERS COMMISSIONED AT LUSIGNAN
By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News
The Ministry of Home Affairs officially commissioned the new Guyana Prison Service (GPS) headquarters on Monday, now located in Lusignan, East Coast Demerara.
The relocation is described as a transformative milestone aimed at strengthening the correctional system, with a greater focus on rehabilitation, reintegration, and efficiency.
Delivering the feature address, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn emphasized that prison reform must extend beyond infrastructure to ensure that inmates are given opportunities to reintegrate into society as productive citizens.
“We’re talking about reforming, rehabilitating… making them separate from society so that we could return them safe to their families and communities so they can make useful contributions.”
Benn also urged officers to strike a balance between security and humanity and respect, stressing that prisoners should not be subjected to mistreatment.
Meanwhile, Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot, noted that the new headquarters is part of a broader national initiative to modernize prison infrastructure and improve conditions for both inmates and staff. He highlighted that the facility is designed to foster skills training, education, and healthier interactions that support personal growth.
The new headquarters, situated within the Lusignan Prison compound, provides expanded space for administrative operations, stronger staff coordination, and closer integration of security and rehabilitative functions. Newly constructed cell blocks were also unveiled, featuring improved capacity, enhanced living conditions, and improved security.
Officials emphasized that the project reflects the government’s commitment to reducing recidivism by ensuring that Guyana’s correctional facilities serve as true centers of reform, rather than merely centers of punishment.
