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Longstanding Director of Prisons,Wes Unseld Wizards Jersey, Dale Erskine is on pre-retirement leave and the Ministry of Home Affairs is now on the lookout for someone to replace him.Erskine completed 32 years of service to Guyana’s penal system and has hung up his gloves on a career that was punctuated with some great highs and some devastating lows.Director of Prisons Dale ErskineOne can easily look back on his tenure at the helm of the Guyana Prison Service and recall the infamous jailbreak of 2002, when five dangerous criminals made good their escape, killing a prison officer and critically wounding another in the process. That escape led to a crime wave that essentially placed Guyana under duress.But Erskine could take credit in the fact that he headed the Prison Service at a time when the local prison facilities were bursting at the seams,Bruno Caboclo Raptors Jersey, and the government refused to lift a finger to alleviate the problem of overcrowding.In fact,Raptors Jersey, in December 2006, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee announced that the government had no plans to construct a prison away from the city. He was responding to a question from Alliance For Change Member of Parliament, Raphael Trotman (now Speaker of the National Assembly).The question was in keeping with recommendations made during two commissions of inquiry, including the Disciplined Services Commission.Earlier in 2006,Mario Hezonja Magic Jersey, a senior prison official had called for the immediate implementation of recommendations to build a new prison to avert a major disaster at the existing facility at Camp Street.This was after three high profile prisoners attempted to emulate their 2002 Mash Day jailbreak counterparts.This was not the only trial for Erskine, who withstood scandal after scandal,Vince Carter Magic Jersey, including security breaches.But according to his many well-wishers who attended a special farewell function for him a few days ago, he used all of his administrative skills to stand firm as head of an organization,John Stockton Team USA Jersey, which, while not as high profile as others in the criminal justice system, was equally important.His departure has left the service without a substantive successor from within the actual prison system.Presently,Grant Hill Magic Jersey, Retired Assistant Commissioner Welton Trotz, who previously served as Erskine’s Deputy,Karl Malone Team USA Jersey, is the Acting Director. According to top sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Trotz is unlikely to be confirmed as the substantive head of the Guyana Prison Service.There is talk that another serving Assistant Commissioner of Police could be sent to run the prison service.“Whoever is the choice,Nikola Vucevic Magic Jersey, filling Erskine’s shoes will take a very big foot,� a source at the Ministry of Home Affairs told Kaieteur News. |
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