By Selwyn A. Pieters, B.A., LL.B., L.E.C.
Lawyer & Notary Public (Ontario, Canada)
Attorney-at-Law (Republic of Guyana, Island of Trinidad)
Created May 16, 2016
On March 02, 03 and 04, 2016, Guyana saw its worst prison riot in the 132 year old history of the Georgetown Prison. Alleged anger over the slowness of the judicial system and allegations of other prison conditions yet to be found, but are the subject of this Inquiry, exacerbated by the takedown of Collis Collison during a search in the Yard of Capital Block “A” spilling into the actual hostility of inmates to prison staff or acts by the inmates that evidenced aggression and hostility towards the Correctional staff and incitement to kill correctional officers, barricaded the Capital Block A Door, lit fires, damage state property. The resulting second fire on March 03, 2016 killed 17 inmates and injured 30 others. This was followed by a massive rebellion at the Georgetown on March 04, 2016 causing an explosion of demands and needs for a joint services (police, prisons, fire, army) intervention.
His Excellency Brigadier David Granger President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana appointed a Commission of Inquiry constituted for the purpose: “to enquire into all the circumstances surrounding the death of seventeen (17) Prisoners namely from the Camp Street Prison, Georgetown on the morning of Thursday 3rd of March,2016 to report the findings and conclusions to the Minister of Public Security and to make recommendations on any action that should be taken to avoid any recurrence”
WRITTEN AND ORAL ARGUMENT OF COUNSEL FOR THE GUYANA PRISON SERVICE
May 06, 2016 Closing Argument of Counsel for the Guyana Prison Service at the Commission of Inquiry into the Camp Street Prison Disturbances and Subsequent Deaths.
May 06, 2016 Book of Authorities (Case Book) of the Guyana Prison Service
May 09, 2016 Oral Argument of Selwyn A. Pieters, Counsel for the Guyana Prison Service, at the Commission of Inquiry into the Camp Street Prison Disturbances and Subsequent Deaths.
Georgetown Prison COI Day 23: Chief Prison Officer Patrick Crawford and S/Supt. Gladwin Samuels
Georgetown Prison COI Day 23: Cadet Officer Udistair Holligan
Georgetown Prison COI - Day 20: Gladwin Samuels - Deputy Director of Prisons
