Gladwin Samuels, will not be returning to head the Guyana Prison Service this was disclosed by him in a press release to the media.
Samuels said he was instructed on December 14th last year to proceed on his accumulated 132 days annual vacation leave. However with his vacation leave set to end on Sunday, April 25 he wrote the Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn notifying him of his expected return.
Yesterday, Friday, April 23 he was notified via letter that he will not be returning to his substantive post but instead he will be taking up the post of Assistant Coordinator of People Smuggling. This new reassignment takes effect on Monday, April 26th on a full-time basis until further notice and that he is not expected to report to Minister Benn to be appraised of his duties.
Samuels said he was thankful for the support and cooperation he received from the Joint Services, the Prison Service, members of the public and the media during his tenure as head of the prisons.
Samuels removal as head of the prison service is similar to that of several senior and qualified police officers who have been seconded to other agencies when the governing People’s Progressive Party came to power.
Presently Nicklon Elliot is the acting head of the Guyana Prison Service.
Attorney-at-Law Selwyn Pieters is providing legal advice to Samuels on the matter.