Swift action averts fire at Camp Street Prison

DPI, Guyana, Friday, March 20, 2020

Quick action by prison officers brought an end to a fire that was set this afternoon by an inmate. This was confirmed in a press statement by the Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels.

According to the release, the fire was set by inmate Odel Roberts who is serving three years for trafficking narcotics and who is also on trial for murder.

“A fire was set on the catwalk of the solitary division of the Camp Street Prison. This was quickly brought under control by the officers on duty at the time,” the release stated.

It is reported that Roberts started the fire because he was upset with a fellow prisoner who refused to lend him a cell phone and DVD player.

“It is alleged that Roberts lit newspaper and a piece of his mattress and threw these on the catwalk outside the door of the prisoner with whom he has the dispute,” the release said.

The statement said that after visiting the scene officers from the Guyana Fire Service declared there was no major to the prison and deemed it safe.

Police are currently investigating the matter.