The Bartica United Youth Development Group (BUYDG), through its Human Rights and Prison Reform Division, welcomes the release of five lifers from custody today.
We understand that the list of five inmates was signed off by the Minister yesterday, their families were subsequently informed, and the inmates were released today, 8 September 2026.
BUYDG considers this an important and welcome development.
However, we must also make clear that this is a call we have been making for a very long time.
For years, BUYDG has repeatedly called upon the Government to properly address the circumstances of long-serving prisoners, particularly lifers who have spent decades in custody and whose cases require meaningful parole, mercy, humanitarian and rehabilitative consideration.
TODAY’S RELEASES ARE WELCOME — BUT THE WORK MUST CONTINUE
We congratulate the five released inmates and their families.
The four names currently confirmed to us are:
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Derrick Callender
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Hafeez/Hafiz Hussein
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Terrence Sahadeo
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Colin/Colwyn Smart
The name of the fifth released lifer is still being confirmed.
For families who have waited years to see their loved ones return home, today’s development is undoubtedly a significant and emotional moment.
BUYDG believes that when a prisoner has served a substantial period of imprisonment and is eligible for consideration under the law, there must be a functioning system through which that person’s circumstances can be properly examined.
Today’s five releases demonstrate that action is possible.
We therefore urge the authorities to continue this process and ensure that other prisoners who may qualify are not forgotten.
WE HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR THIS FOR YEARS
BUYDG has consistently raised concerns about the treatment of long-serving lifers and the need for an effective parole and mercy system.
Our position has never been that serious offences should be ignored or that justice should be abandoned.
Our position is that justice must also include rehabilitation, review, proportionality, humanity and a meaningful opportunity for release where the law permits it.
The five releases today should therefore be viewed not as the end of the discussion, but as an opportunity to finally address the wider problem.
OTHER LONG-SERVING LIFERS STILL REQUIRE REVIEW
While we celebrate today’s releases, BUYDG remains deeply concerned about other long-serving inmates whose cases continue to require urgent attention.
We continue to draw attention to persons including Oral Hendricks, Lawrence Chan, Ganga Deolall and Brian/Bryan Vandeyar, among others whose circumstances warrant proper individual review.
Some inmates have spent extraordinary portions of their lives behind prison walls.
The question must therefore be asked:
How many more years must a person spend in prison before his or her case is meaningfully reviewed for parole, mercy or humanitarian relief?
MICAH WILLIAMS AND DONALD MAPP — EMERGENCY CASES
While welcoming today’s five releases, BUYDG stresses that Micah Williams and elderly inmate Donald Mapp remain emergency cases requiring immediate attention.
These cases cannot simply be placed in the ordinary queue and allowed to remain unresolved indefinitely.
Micah Williams continues to require urgent consideration on humanitarian and medical grounds. His medical circumstances, treatment needs and the risks associated with prolonged incarceration require the competent authorities to ensure that his case receives immediate and meaningful attention.
Donald Mapp, an elderly inmate, likewise requires urgent humanitarian consideration because of his advanced age and vulnerability.
BUYDG’s position is straightforward:
We must not wait until an elderly or seriously ill prisoner dies in custody before action is taken.
The purpose of humanitarian and mercy mechanisms is precisely to allow the State to respond when exceptional circumstances arise.
We therefore call upon the relevant authorities to urgently examine both cases and take whatever lawful humanitarian, medical, parole or mercy measures are available.
NO ONE SHOULD BE LEFT TO DIE IN PRISON
The release of five inmates today should remind us that prisoners are human beings and that their circumstances can change over time.
A person who entered prison decades ago is not necessarily the same person today.
Age, health, rehabilitation, family circumstances, conduct in prison and the length of imprisonment are all matters that may require consideration by the appropriate authorities.
BUYDG therefore repeats its longstanding call:
No elderly or seriously ill prisoner should be allowed to deteriorate in custody simply because the system failed to act in time.
PAROLE AND MERCY SYSTEMS MUST REMAIN ACTIVE
We again call upon the Government to:
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Ensure that the Parole Board is properly constituted and operational.
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Ensure that eligible inmates receive timely parole consideration.
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Clear any backlog of pending applications.
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Ensure that the Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy is properly constituted and functioning.
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Give urgent consideration to elderly and seriously ill prisoners.
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Review long-serving lifers who have spent decades in custody.
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Ensure that parole and mercy decisions are handled fairly, consistently and transparently.
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Ensure compliance with applicable statutory reporting and accountability requirements.
TODAY IS A DAY TO WELCOME — AND A DAY TO REMEMBER
BUYDG welcomes today’s release of five lifers.
We welcome the families who will have their loved ones home tonight.
We welcome every lawful decision that allows a rehabilitated prisoner to return to society.
But we also remind the Government that BUYDG has been making this call for years.
Today’s development shows that our concerns cannot simply be dismissed.
There are still prisoners whose cases require attention.
There are still elderly prisoners.
There are still medically vulnerable prisoners.
There are still people who have spent decades in custody.
And there are still families waiting.
Let today’s five releases be the beginning of a sustained process — not a one-day event.
BUYDG stands ready to continue advocating for a parole and mercy system that protects public safety while respecting rehabilitation, human dignity and the rule of law.
Five lifers have gone home today.
Now let us ensure that no one else who lawfully qualifies for consideration is forgotten.
