GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Jul 09 2017 – Inmates from the Georgetown Prison were being moved to other facilities on Sunday night following a fire that the authorities said had been set purposely by prisoners.
The Guyana-based online publication DemeraraWaves reported that numerous gunshots rang out as police and soldiers sought to prevent several of the prisoners from leaving the burning facility where 17 people were killed 16 months ago following a fire there.
The publication reported that two prison officers were chopped and three were reportedly shot and rushed to a nearby hospital.
At Buxton, police cordoned off a car that might have been used by a number of escapees.
Virtually all of the wooden buildings that made up the Georgetown Prison were burnt to the ground. They include the capital block and part of the administrative building.
Prison Chief, Gladwin Samuels said he received a report of an escape and fire fighters said they were unable to enter the prison compound because the prisoners are armed with guns and the situation is very volatile.
