Prisons Commissioner Sterling Stewart is standing by his men in face of allegations that prisons officers were involved in a plot to kill accused gang leader Rajaee Ali.
He also challenged that the facts, not fiction, be presented to the public adding: “We are dealing with mischief, confusion and bacchanal and making it into facts.”
Stewart said so at the seventh annual art exhibition put on by inmates at the Long Circular Mall, St James, yesterday. It was held in collaboration with the Raja Yoga Centre.
The claims of a hit on Ali's life were made via his attorney Criston Williams.
An inmate had stated that an officer, who was identified, had been asking his subordinates to stage an attack and murder Ali.
The officer also suggested a knife be planted on Ali’s body so their alibi would be airtight.
The plot to murder Ali, the inmate claims, has been brewing since 2013 after colleagues of the officers were killed, supposedly on instructions from someone behind prison walls.
Williams had also claimed Ali was alerted to the threat and was now fearful for his life.
He alleged his client’s cell was ransacked by officers and his food and personal items were destroyed while his clothes were doused with water. One officer, Williams had said, was alleged to have threatened to poison Ali. Ali, however, is fasting for the month of Ramadan.
Ali, who is accused of murdering Dana Seetahal, SC, and conspiring to murder radio announcer Kevaughn “Lerbz” Savory, as well as being the leader of a gang, is classified as a high risk inmate.
But Stewart described his officers as committed, adding that he, as prisons chief, was ensuring there were safe and humane conditions at the nation's prisons.
“We have a warrant for Rajaee Ali that he presents himself to the court on an appointed date and time and that is one of my main remit. Not only him but all the inmates in my care.
“Anyone can get up one morning and make allegations. You know how much allegations we hear about Rajaee Ali and how many bodies and whatever. You know how many allegations about the threat to officers' life... we don't hear the lawyers asking about this,” Stewart said.
He maintained that the Prisons Service was not only committed to ensuring the well-being of inmates but also for the protection of society.
Pressed further on specific claims that prisons officers were involved in the plan to kill Ali, Stewart again dismissed those as allegations.
“We have a role to play and we are professionals. We have to be careful about what we are supporting, including the lawyers. Is time they wake up and stop supporting foolishness sometimes. We have to stop making crime a business for too many who suppose to know better. Let them be champions of goodness instead,” Stewart added.
Asked whether there would be increased security for Ali, Stewart said that was what his officers were all about.
He said there was no public outcry from members of the public when the lives of officers were at risk, especially by those claiming their lives were instead at stake.
“There are allegations that some of these people call the shot on our officers who end up dying.
“And these same people who calling the shots we have to take care of them and nobody don't speak about the lives of the officers.
“We didn't put no Rajaee Ali in prison and we didn’t put anybody else there. I sure for whatever reason they in prison is not preaching on the pulpit or singing praises to Allah,” Stewart said.
He added that there were no immediate plans to relocate Ali to another facility.
Parole system badly needed
Inmates who painted the various pieces were also present at the exhibition and were praised by Stewart for turning their lives around.
However, he said without certain measures, like the parole system, the inmates could revert to a life of negativity.
Saying he had no idea when such a system would come on stream he assured, however, it was being worked on.
“We have people on pre-trial and on remand for far too long,” Stewart added.