Pull Quote: “I was loved in the prison. Even now in the streets, people who would have passed through the system call me fondly. Because they know I had one philosophy– if you’re right, you’re right; if you’re wrong, you’re wrong. There was no middle ground.”
The deep love and dedication to the job in Guyana’s prison system many years ago have earned a place in the hearts of many with whom he would have interacted. Beginning his career at the tender age of 18 in village politics as Overseer, young Henry Adams aspired to serve his country on a higher level, in a system that not many people have the courage to face or stand.
Working in the prison system – being amongst sometimes high profile criminals and ‘dangerous’ individuals – can pose a threat to one’s safety at times, but this week’s ‘Special Person’ persevered and duly moved through the ranks from an ordinary prison officer to Chief Prison Officer, when he ended his 27-year career.
Henry Adams was born on March 3, 1943 at El Dorado Village, West Coast Berbice, to cattle farmers, Esther Adams and William Hudson. He had eleven other siblings and attended Belladrum Government School and Victoria High School in New Amsterdam a bit later.
After school, he returned home to West Berbice and at the age of eighteen, became involved in village politics for a few months.
“I was sitting at home one day when I saw the village Chairman and two members who came and asked me to be the Overseer.”
During that period, he applied to become a prison officer attached to the Guyana Police Force.
Adams later migrated to Linden in 1965 to live with aunts and uncles, and one year later, he received his acceptance letter to the prison service. His desire to join the entity was fueled by the fact that all of his friends started to leave the village and “being alone home, I did not feel too good; I wanted to go out and ensure that I did something, so I sat the exam, took medicals, and was called in 1966 to join the prison service”.
His first appointment was at the Camp Street Prison in Georgetown where he was employed as a Probation Prison Officer, a post which he held for the customary three years, after which he was transferred to Mazaruni in 1969.
He recalled a lot of experiences at the Georgetown Prisons, particularly one day in 1969 when he witnessed the hanging of a well- known prisoner, for a murder committed at Moleson Creek, Corentyne.
“I was there until they removed him and took him to the gallows that morning to be hanged…it was a terrible thing. He (the condemned prisoner) wrote a letter, confessing…admitting that he was wrong. He had one son, so he wrote telling his child to be honest and live an upright life, because of his dishonesty that made him end up in prison. He didn’t want that to happen to his son.”
“I did feel a bit sad. He was a human being, but a part of it… you’ve got to detach yourself from. You can’t be too emotional as a Prison Officer.”
In 1972, Adams returned to Georgetown where he became engaged in a course while being stationed at the Georgetown Hospital as an assistant to the Dispensary.
Five years later, in 1977, he was transferred to New Amsterdam Prisons where he remained until he retired medically unfit after a vehicular accident in 1993, at age 50, as a Chief Prison Officer, a rank equivalent to Inspector.
“While on our way to play cricket on the East Coast of Demerara, the Land Rover I was in turned turtle in a canal and I injured my back. Not being able to stand up for too long– and prison officers do have to endure standing a lot, I came off the job.”
Our ‘Special Person’ briefly mentioned that he met his lifelong partner, Blanche, an officer herself in the Guyana Police Force, in Georgetown, while playing a dominoes competition at the Prison Club. They have, to date, been happily married for 36 years.
He then shared more career memories.
“Working in the prison system was very adventurous. I worked under several Directors of Prisons, including Messrs Kendall, Davis, France, Henry and Kilkenny. I was particularly impressed by Mr Davis– now deceased. He was a gentleman; a very honest, forgiving, down-to-earth and dignified man.”
And then there were the inmates.
“While working one Christmas – on a 2:00pm – 10:00pm shift – I was asked by my superior to accompany a prisoner, who had cut himself across the abdomen with a razor blade, to the hospital.
He reflected on the prisoner’s motive, that of escaping.
“He busted his belly, three or four places, and I took him to the hospital– I never knew that man and I grew up together. He appeared to be acting suspiciously, so in the vehicle, I emphasised that I had a revolver, and that any time he attempted to run, I would shoot him. I was a no- nonsense officer and did not mix work with personal feelings.”
Adams recounted that he gave specific instructions to the officer who would have relieved him at around midnight, to handcuff the prisoner to the bed and keep a close watch on him “because I knew his motives”. But later the next day he learnt that the prisoner had escaped from the hospital. The man was later recaptured.
“I was strict, honest, and never used to hit inmates, because there were rules and regulations governing prison, so you really don’t have to hit anybody”. He related that a prisoner, who, for example, would be released in a week’s time, would feel more hurt if he was charged for disobedience, thus having to spend an extra week in jail.
Adams did admit getting angry with inmates at times but insisted that “I would send them to solitary confinement. That was my modus operandi. I don’t believe in beating, because I certainly wouldn’t like if anybody beat me.”
“I was loved in the prison. Even now in the streets, people who would have passed through the system call me fondly. Because they know I had one philosophy– if you’re right, you’re right; if you’re wrong, you’re wrong. There was no middle ground.”
He recalled that while in New Amsterdam, he reached out to prisoners “who did not really have a say in the prison amongst the other prisoners”.
“Bullying was dominant and a few prisoners who were being bullied by others, could not access water to take a shower. Five persons had to bathe with one big can (of water), but if you’re a weak officer– the old and the lame wouldn’t get to bathe. So I used to leave my dispensary sometimes, go there and call all the old people and sent them to the bath, because if I did not do that, the bullies would bathe five times a day, because they could, and leave the others.”
“The experience you gain [working] in prison is difficult to gain any other way, honestly. Now I can reflect that were a lot of persons who were there innocently, and a lot of persons who committed offences were outside.”
“To be frank, the police have to do better investigative work. They need to be sincere and honest in their jobs, because in today’s society, those who have money do almost anything. When you are poor and don’t know anybody, you lag behind. Sadly, that is the society in which we live. It’s very, very sad”.
When times got tough on the job, Adams recalled himself turning to his fellow officers for help and advice. He talked about the then Deputy Director of Prisons, Mr Mentis.
“I could go to him and, anything, sit and reason; also Mr Vyphuis. We had a good rapport, and sometimes we would go in the office and sit and chat…ventilate our feelings. I enjoyed working there, and if I had to live my life again, I would work in the prison service”.
Comparing the system in his time to present-day with respect to break-outs, he related “It was a very rare thing during my time; unlike now…it didn’t happen as often.”
Touching on capital punishment, Mr. Adams opined that it still has a place in society today.
“It should not be abolished. If a man in a fight loses his composure, that’s one story– but if you deliberately set out to kill a man, you must pay for your deed. I don’t think they should abolish it…that is my humble opinion. The amount of murders you have today you never used to have that years ago. During Mr. (former President) Hoyte’s time, they kicked down your doors and the government started to hang people and it eased down a lot.”
There was, however, a note of caution.
“Hangings should be retained but it has to be ensured that the accused are guilty— because they say it is better for ten guilty men to go free than to convict one innocent man, so you have to be very careful, and the law has to take its course; the police and judiciary have to do their work diligently and be honest with everybody.”
Adams stated that things have changed a lot since his time, and seem to be moving in a better direction.
“When I went to the service, it was strictly custodial; now they have changed to remedy that…it is custodial as well as remedial. More inmates are writing exams and learning trades in prison. So it is far better now than years gone by…benefitting the prisoners more, so now they can work.” “And then we have a young, vibrant man as Director of Prisons, Mr. [Dale] Erskine– a gentleman, he’s trying his utmost…It’s not easy, but he has got his finger firmly on the pulse.”
And his advice to young officers: “Work and work sincerely, thoughtfully, and I reiterate, be honest; don’t covet prisoners’ things– and don’t encourage them to steal things to give you. Do the right thing and your reward will be great”.