…says Special Remission in keeping with Prison Act
Director of Prisons (ag) Niclon Elliot on Tuesday defended the Guyana Prison Service’s release of 65 inmates noting that Special Remission was granted to the prisoners in accordance with the Prison Act Chapter 11:01 of the Laws of Guyana.
In a statement, Elliot said that the GPS notes with “some concern, attempts on social media by some persons to deliberately misconstrue and to cast aspersion on the act of the Special Remissions.”
He said that the inmates were deserving were released based on their time served and good behavior and rehabilitation.
“It should be noted too, that this special remission was delayed due to circumstances beyond the control of the Prison Service and, also, arising out of the impact of the Global COVID- 19 Pandemic,” Elliot said noting the sentence served by the inmates had less than three months for all those released.
Additionally, the Director of Prison said that offences which the special remission was granted included five persons for major, nine for serious and 51 for minor.
“The Prison Directorate wishes to reiterate that the inmates were selected based on the time served in prison and are considered not likely to be of a risk to society. We hope that this information clears up any doubts surrounding the releases,” the statement concluded.
The inmates were released sometime last month.
