The rehabilitation programme at the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) has received a major boost, through the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP) project.
The GPS earlier today received 20 sewing machines to improve the rehabilitation of inmates.
Speaking at a simple handing over ceremony, which was held at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Minister Robeson Benn said the donation will further assist in rehabilitation of inmates, an initiative which the government feels will lowering the current recidivism rate.
Minister Benn further added that the government is investing heavily in the prison system in the area of prisons rehabilitation. To this end, he said the ministry is providing the necessary training for inmates in various fields.
Meanwhile, Director of Prison Nicklon Elliott stressed that the donation came at a timely moment since it will enhance vocational training at prisons across the country.
Elliot promised to ensure that every prisoner is exposed to the training programmes available within the prison and not only tailoring.
“This will boost the training programmes within the prisons and of course it will definitely go a far way,” he said.
The CSSP is a project within the Ministry of Home Affairs which is financed through a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
One of its main objectives is to improve GPS’ effectiveness in reducing offender recidivism at the national level.
Among its recent work, the CSSP has completed a study of alternatives to incarceration and pre-trial detainees with the aim of contributing to the reduction of the remanded prison population and overcrowding.
The CSSP has also provided a prisons case management system to support and manage inmates’ progress, improve record keeping and allow for data sharing across agencies.
