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PORT OF SPAIN--Prisons officers are threatening to shut down operations at the country's penal institutions in protest over Government's failure to implement additional security measures, promised after the murder of one of their colleagues last year.
Speaking at a press conference outside the Frederick Street entrance of the Port-of-Spain State Prison on Wednesday president of the Prisons Officers' Association Ceron Richards described the proposed action, which crippled operations at the prisons for several weeks last year, as a last resort by prisons officers to have their concerns addressed. "Officers' backs are against a wall. They are not prepared to go on as if it is business as usual when their lives and limbs are threatened.
"Their morale is low and they will withdraw their support for the job. It is an emergency situation and action must be taken," said Richards, who was surrounded by two dozens of his members. As he called for Justice Minister Emmanuel George and Prisons Commissioner Conrad Barrow to resign, Richards accused them for the Government's failure to implement the recommendations of a nine-member committee appointed following the murder of off-duty prisons officer Andy Rogers on November 7, last year.
Rogers's death triggered a chain of events, including a "go slow" protest from prisons officers and riots among the prisoners over not being fed. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar intervened to appease protesting prisons officers and appointed the committee which was chaired by Prof Ramesh Deosaran.
Among the recommendations proposed by the committee was a new remand yard facility, full body scanners at the entrances of the prisons, stab and bullet proof jackets and firearms for off-duty officers. "To date not one of those security initiatives that was adopted by Cabinet has materialised. So one will ask the question what is the order of priority does the Government places the Prisons Service?" Richards asked.
He highlighted a series of serious attacks and threats, including one two weeks ago when an officer at the Maximum Security Prison, Arouca, was slashed across his face and a plot by one prisoner to assassinate three officers at the Golden Grove State Prison, Arouca, which was uncovered earlier this week.
"A letter was found in the possession of an inmate outlining a number of security breaches in the prison. It outlined apparatus for the making of explosive devices and identified three prisons officers," Richards said. He claimed that despite the association and the targeted officers raising the issue with Barrow, no extra protection was provided. ~ Trinidad Guardian ~
