Work with government to prevent youths being criminalised – Min. Ramjattan
-GPS inmate survey handed over
-findings will help to form policies based on scientific investigation, and not mere suspicions
DPI, Guyana, Monday, May 28, 2018
Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan at the handover of the ‘Final report of the Guyana Prison Service Inmates Survey’, at the Police Training Centre, Eve Leary, called on civil society to “work with the government to prevent youths being criminalised.”
Minister Ramjattan flanked by IDB’s Sophie Makonnen and Director of Prison (Ag), Gladwin Samuels.
“Because many of the triggers of youth involvement in crime are within our society, there is a need for communities and civil society groups to work alongside government in correcting many of the society’s ills that eventually criminalise our young people,” Minister Ramjattan said.
Further, the Public Security Minister explained the main findings of the IDB-funded survey show that several inmates were exposed to various criminal settings or in such a context outside of the prison walls.
“One out of four inmates reported that their father or mother’s partner beat their mothers. In four out of ten cases the inmates’ parents or adults with whom they lived as children drank alcohol frequently. One out of five inmates said there are gangs or members belonging to criminal groups, in the neighbourhood where they lived as minors. Four out of ten inmates stated that they had a family member who had been sent to prison before,” he outlined.
Dr. Clement Henry of the CSSP, Director of Prisons(ag) Gladwin Samuels and IDB’s Sophie Makonnen examine a copy of the report.
Meanwhile, IDB’s country representative Sophie Makonnen explained that the findings will aid in the establishment and implementation of policies based on scientific investigation, and not mere suspicions.
“It’s about really evidenced-based policies and that’s important, to have policies that respond to reality and not the opposite. Otherwise, the policies for any country would not be as effective as they need to be,” Makonnen said.
The Prison Service inmates survey was conducted in collaboration with the University of Guyana, the Centre for American Studies on Crime and Violence, the National University of Tres de Febrero of Argentina and Inter-American Development Bank. It forms part of the Ministry of Public Security’s Citizen Security Strengthening Programme.
By: Kidackie Amsterdam
Images by Jules Gibson.