Request to suspend new Lusignan Prison visitation roster

Dear Honourable Minister Walrond,

The Bartica United Youth Development Group respectfully writes to you on behalf of numerous concerned citizens who have requested that our organization make representation regarding the new visitation schedule recently introduced by the administration of Lusignan Prison, which is scheduled to take effect on Monday, 9 March 2026.^[1]

The notice outlining the new visitation roster was shared with our organization in confidence by visiting family members and an officer attached to the facility. In order to protect these individuals from any possible victimization or adverse consequences, we have honoured their request to keep their identities strictly confidential.

Since the notice became known to the public during visits last week, our organization has received a significant number of communications from concerned members of the public expressing serious concerns regarding the new system. The volume of communication received by our organization indicates that this issue affects a significant number of families across multiple regions of Guyana, many of whom rely on regular prison visits as their only opportunity to maintain contact with incarcerated relatives.

These concerns have been raised not only by visiting relatives but also by inmates who have conveyed their worries through those visitors.

The complainants have explained that the proposed roster will significantly affect their ability to maintain regular contact with their loved ones who are currently incarcerated. As such, the concerns presented represent the collective voices of both visiting families and inmates themselves.

Additionally, our organization has benefitted from the input of experienced individuals within our network, including persons who were previously held on remand but later successfully defended their cases and have since reintegrated into society. Their perspectives have provided valuable insight into the practical impact of prison visitation policies on families and rehabilitation outcomes.

Honourable Minister, while we acknowledge that the prison administration may have introduced this system with the intention of improving efficiency and administrative organization, we must respectfully report that the overwhelming majority of families and concerned citizens who have contacted us do not support the new visitation roster.

For many years, the established system permitted:

Remanded and appellate inmates: two (2) visits per week

Convicted inmates: one (1) visit per week, with many families historically being permitted two visits per week depending on circumstances

The new arrangement significantly reduces this access by limiting remanded and appellant inmates to one visit per week, while convicted inmates are restricted to only one visit per month. The system also introduces rigid visiting days assigned by prison building and requires visits to be booked exclusively through WhatsApp at least one week in advance, without taking into consideration that not all citizens have access to or use WhatsApp.

Families have indicated that these restrictions will create significant practical difficulties. Many visitors are employed within both the public and private sectors and may not be able to attend on the specific days assigned under the new system. Others observe religious obligations, including the Sabbath, which may prevent them from attending visits on certain days such as Saturdays. Additionally, school-aged children may now be unable to visit their incarcerated parents because the available visiting hours may conflict with school schedules.

Another very important concern raised relates to situations where public holidays fall on the fixed visiting days assigned under the new roster. Under the previous visitation system, visits were generally not permitted on public holidays. However, the notice introducing the new roster does not appear to clearly address whether visits will still be permitted when a holiday falls on an assigned visiting day.

As a result, many families are uncertain about how this issue will be handled and whether they may lose their only opportunity to visit during that week or month if a public holiday falls on their assigned visiting day. Given that convicted inmates under the new arrangement may only receive one visit per month, the loss of a visit due to a public holiday could have a particularly serious impact on maintaining family contact.

This uncertainty has led many persons to question how the new roster was developed and whether all relevant practical factors were fully considered before its introduction. While many citizens believe that the concept of improving organization within the visitation system may be a good idea, they are of the view that the arrangement may not have been fully developed to take into account several important factors, including those outlined in this letter.

For this reason, several concerned citizens have expressed the view that the current arrangement should have undergone more careful review before being implemented in its present form. The situation has therefore raised questions among members of the public regarding whether the policy received sufficient administrative assessment before its introduction.

Honourable Minister, in light of the seriousness of these concerns, we respectfully request that the implementation of the new visitation system be temporarily placed on hold until your office has had the opportunity to review the complaints and concerns being presented by the affected families and members of the public.

Maintaining family contact with incarcerated persons is widely recognized as one of the most important factors supporting rehabilitation and successful reintegration into society. Continued engagement with family members can help rebuild and strengthen relationships that may have been strained or disrupted as a result of incarceration. In some circumstances, maintaining communication may also contribute to restorative justice processes where reconciliation may occur between affected parties.

Families also play a vital role in supporting incarcerated persons in practical ways that assist both the individuals themselves and the prison system. Visiting relatives frequently provide essential personal items such as toiletries, clothing, and other necessities that may not always be adequately available within the institution. In addition, many families provide financial support through deposits to inmates’ tuck shop accounts, allowing incarcerated persons to obtain food items, hygiene products, and other basic necessities.

Beyond these practical contributions, the maintenance of family relationships provides critical emotional, psychological, and social support. Regular contact encourages inmates during the rehabilitation process and contributes to the mental and emotional wellbeing of both the incarcerated person and their loved ones.

This is particularly significant for children and other close relatives, as maintaining contact helps preserve family unity and emotional stability during periods of separation. In many cases, these relationships remain the primary support system that keeps families together until the incarcerated person is eventually released and able to pursue reconciliation and reintegration within their family and community.

Strong family support systems have also been widely recognized internationally as one of the most effective factors in reducing recidivism and promoting successful reintegration of formerly incarcerated persons into society. Policies that maintain and strengthen these family connections therefore serve not only the interests of inmates and their families, but also the broader interests of public safety and community stability.

We also respectfully note that the Government of Guyana, through public statements made by Irfaan Ali, Anil Nandlall, and your good self, has expressed a clear commitment to modernizing Guyana’s prison legislation and transforming the current penal system into a more modern correctional and rehabilitative institution.

While this objective is widely supported by citizens, the reduction of family visitation, particularly the limitation of convicted inmates to one visit per month, appears inconsistent with the broader policy objective of strengthening rehabilitation, family support, and reintegration.

We further respectfully note that under the Prison Act of Guyana, the administration of prisons operates subject to the authority and directions of the Minister responsible for prisons. Section 4 of the Act places the general administration and control of prisons under the Director of Prisons subject to the orders of the Minister.

Section 56 of the Act further provides that the Minister may make rules for the good management and governance of prisons and prisoners and for carrying out the objectives of the Act. In light of this statutory authority, and given that the Act itself does not prescribe fixed visitation times or limits, we respectfully submit that matters relating to prison visitation policies fall within the scope of ministerial oversight and administrative review.

While this letter specifically addresses the situation at Lusignan Prison, we must respectfully note that this matter forms part of a wider pattern of complaints received regarding visiting conditions at several prison facilities across Guyana. As our organization continues to engage with citizens and concerned persons, we remain committed to working constructively with the Government of Guyana and relevant authorities on matters relating to prison reform, human rights, and the broader development of our nation.

In light of the concerns presented to us, and acting on behalf of the many affected persons who have placed their trust in our organization, we respectfully recommend the following:

1. Restoration and Standardisation of Visits

That all inmates, remanded, appellants, and convicted, be permitted a minimum of two (2) visits per week, recognizing the importance of consistent family contact for rehabilitation and reintegration.

2. Death Row Inmates

That the relevant laws and regulations be reviewed to allow family visits for death-row inmates under appropriate security conditions, noting that many remain engaged in ongoing appeals.

3. Visit Duration

That general visits be set at a minimum duration of 40–50 minutes, with the possibility of extending to one hour where circumstances permit.

4. Improved Booking System

That the current WhatsApp-only one-week advance booking requirement be replaced with a more flexible system. While we support the use of WhatsApp for advanced communication, the system should also allow for bookings through telephone calls, SMS text messages, emails, and in-person requests.

5. Reasonable Consideration for Travel and Unforeseen Circumstances

That reasonable consideration is given where visitors may arrive late due to transportation delays or other unforeseen events, particularly for families travelling from interior regions and distant communities.

In conclusion and as mentioned before we respectfully note that under section 35 of the Prisons Act (Guyana), the Honourable Minister responsible for prison administration is vested with the authority to make rules for the regulation, management, and proper administration of prisons, including matters relating to the treatment, discipline, and general management of prisoners and prison facilities.^[2] In this regard, we respectfully submit that visitation arrangements fall within the category of matters that may appropriately be guided through ministerial rules or administrative direction, particularly where such arrangements significantly affect inmates, their families, and members of the public.

In light of the concerns outlined above, we respectfully request that your office consider issuing an immediate administrative directive to temporarily suspend the implementation of the new visitation roster at Lusignan Prison, pending a formal review and consultation with affected families and other relevant stakeholders.

Honourable Minister, we respectfully place this matter before you with confidence in your leadership and your continued commitment to fairness, justice, and the wellbeing of Guyanese families.

Our organization remains willing to provide further information if required, and we stand ready to facilitate additional confidential input from affected families and concerned members of the public.

We also wish to respectfully note that there are ongoing complaints regarding visiting arrangements across several prison facilities in Guyana, including the female prison. However, these matters are not detailed in this letter, as this correspondence focuses primarily on concerns relating to the new visitation roster recently introduced at Lusignan Prison.

For example, families have also raised concerns regarding the length of time they are often required to wait before being allowed to visit their loved ones, and instances where persons who arrive later appear to receive visits before those who have been waiting for extended periods. There have also been complaints about deficiencies with the visiting booth system, as well as concerns about the manner in which some prison officers communicate with members of the public, which families have described as at times being disrespectful or discourteous.

Additionally, many visitors have highlighted the financial burden associated with transportation costs to reach the prison facility, as well as the difficulty of travelling from the public road at the entrance of the prison leading to the prison and its visiting area itself. Families have also expressed concern about the absence of their mobile phones while in the visiting area, which can create practical difficulties for communication and coordination with relatives and transportation.

These and several other matters continue to be raised by concerned families and members of the public. However, as noted earlier, they are not the primary focus of this present letter, which is directed mainly toward the concerns arising from the recently introduced visitation roster. We will respectfully bring these and other issues and concerns to your attention in future correspondence for your kind consideration.

Given the number of concerns being raised by families across various regions of Guyana, we believe that careful review and constructive engagement on this matter will help strengthen public confidence in the administration of the prison system and ensure that visitation arrangements are fair, practical, and humane.

We thank you in advance for your attention to this important humanitarian matter and respectfully request your urgent consideration.

References

1. How to Visit Lansing Corrections Facility - 72-Hour Rule — penmateapp.com ↩
2. https://moha.gov.gy/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Prison-Act.pdf ↩