Prisons aiming for self sufficiency in food
-Prison Service, Agriculture Ministry sign MOU

Georgetown, GINA, January 17, 2008

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) today inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the restart of agricultural activities at the prisons to ensure self sufficiency in food.
            Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee speaking at the signing which took place in the Home Affairs Boardroom said the MOU will serve as a momentum to the general plans of government to revitalise farming at the prisons.
            “We found that the prison service has tremendous potential to make a significant contribution to the agriculture sector even if it is mainly to ensure it becomes self sufficient in food and other agriculture products …. I have great hopes that this plan will succeed,” Minister Rohee said.

The GPS during last year had submitted an Agricultural Business Development plan to the Ministry of Agriculture for consideration since the Ministry will play a major role in its implementation.
            Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud said it indicates a growing willingness by his Ministry to facilitate assistance for both public and private agencies in developing their agriculture programmes. He is optimistic that the plan will enable economic opportunities.
“As envisioned in the business plan, not only would the prison through these efforts be able to feed itself thus reduce the allocation it receive from the Finance Ministry in this area, but also become an economic opportunity …We will be able to work in terms of research, propagation and breeding in the long-term, so there are some opportunities for us in that regard,” Minister Persaud said.

According to the plan,surplus produce will be sold on the domestic market.  A management committee will overlook the project and technical personnel from the Ministry of Agriculture will also be involved.
            The Agriculture Ministry will be pursing a similar arrangement with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) which is to be completed in two-weeks.
The Prison Service once had an active farm that provided some of its food requirements.
Government had promised that work will be done to utilise the prisons’ estate to cultivate and rear livestock and produce more food.
The administration sees this as easing the budgetary allocation for dietary expenditure as money will be used in other areas. Every prisoner costs the State approximately $19,000 per month.

 

more bulletins