The Guyana Prison Service is actively advancing their ‘Grow More Initiative’, a program aimed at bolstering agricultural production within the prison system. As part of their broader efforts to promote rehabilitation and reduce recidivism, special emphasis is being placed on this initiative.
Ayube Mohamed, Chairman of the Lusignan Visiting Committee, outlined the program’s multifaceted benefits. Inmates receive training, which not only helps reduce food costs for the prison system but also provides opportunities for the prisoners. Those who participate can earn time off and remission for their contributions to the Guyana Prison Service.
Under this initiative, inmates from Lusignan, Mazaruni, and New Amsterdam received training from the National Research and Extension Institute (NAREI). The program’s success has prompted plans for expansion. The Prison Service, in collaboration with the Minister of Home Affairs, is seeking government approval for 200 acres of land in the Lusignan area for farming. Various crops including citrus fruits, ground provisions, and cash crops are part of the cultivation efforts.
Additionally, the initiative encompasses the production of eggs and poultry products. The Prison Visiting Committee, tasked with overseeing the welfare of prison officers and inmates, ensures operations align with legal parameters. They are also working on a report to enhance the system and reduce recidivism.
Josiah Williams, reporting for NCN News