Director of Prisons Dale Erskine views the criminal justice system as a holistic entity in which should any sector fail, it could contribute to the failure of the entire system.

And, while stakeholders continually demand higher accountability of the Guyana Prison Service, equally so, the perennial perception of prisons being at the `back end’ of the Criminal Justice System is incompatible with its relevance.

The DOP made the observations in his address yesterday at the 25th Thanksgiving Service of the GPS which commenced a week of celebrations in observance of Prison Service Week 2008.

According to him, note should be taken that the current disparity of capability enhancement between the presumed “front-end” ( interdiction , prosecution /enforcement) and the “backend” prison prevents severe challenges to the administration of prisons in Guyana.

Noting it is public knowledge that the service’s institutional limitations make it difficult to address the challenges associated with its high penal population, the DoP said the Service is very confident that the Ministry of Home Affairs will continue to provide the necessary policy directives and institutional resources in an effort “to enhance our capabilities to discharge our mandates in a more effective manner.”

Erskine also publicly commended his limited staff for its phenomenal dedication to deal with the overwhelming challenges associated with a high inmate population and prisoners whose criminal, medical and mental profiles make them grave threats to the security of prison locations and the society at large.

The recent discovery of ammunition and firearms within the Georgetown Prison, he said, is testimony to the villainous interest of some prisoners and the inherent risks prison officers are likely to face on a daily basis.