The greatest challenge facing the Prisons Service is the growing number of Remand inmates as that figure has reach 2,000 and growing, says Prisons Commissioner Sterling Stewart during a press briefing at the Golden Grove Prison, Arouca, yesterday. Stewart also cautioned his men always to be cautious while on and off-duty, as they have been continuous targets of criminals.
Stewart and members of his executive met with National Security Minister Edmund Dillon yesterday to discuss initiatives to strengthen safety for prisons officers. Making mention of the killing of prisons superintendent David Millette, Stewart said that was done in the most “despicable way.”
“As we continue to fulfill our duties of preparing those who come within our environment for their re-entry we are faced on a daily basis with life-threatening incidents, intimidation and threats and as such first on our agenda is and continues to be the safety and security of all officers.
“One of our greatest challenges is the number of remanded inmates,” Stewart said, adding those inmates comprised come 63 per cent of the entire prison population.
Calling for a more efficient judicial system, Stewart said now, more that ever, matters needed to be expedited “because at the end of the day the challenge is not with the convicted.” Asked if he hoped yesterday’s talks would bear fruit Stewart expressed confidence in Dillon, saying he will give the minister the opportunity to stand by his word.
“We have discussed time-lines and we are looking for the fulfillment of that,” Stewart said. He said there were too many people in T&T who had the desire for crime and for killing.
“There is no longer that value for life and where Mr Millette lives is a high-risked area and there was opportunity...so he was just innocent...he was hunted down and gunned down. He was on vacation. He was an easy target and they used that opportunity,” Stewart said.
He maintained that Millette’s murder was linked to an incident which occurred at the Maximum Security Prison on Sunday in which three prisons officers were injured after prisoners refused to hand over a knife.