Pointe Blanche:--- The Inspector of Health visited the house of detention in Pointe Blanche on Tuesday where they conducted a control. According to well placed sources, the Inspectorate of Health wanted to close the kitchen at the institution because of its deplorable condition, but hesitated to do so to save country St. Maarten further embarrassment. SMN News has been reliably informed that the Inspectorate of Health is expected to send their report to the director of the facility Edward Rohan as early as Wednesday. The source said inside the kitchen the sinks were in terrible condition which poses severe health risks, the oil pits need to be repaired because there is leakage, and paint is coming off the roof of the institution. "There is water everywhere running on the floor while there are loose tiles that have to be fixed." The inspectorate saw the same problems a year ago and made recommendations but now the Minister of Justice will be given a specific time frame in which he must have the repairs conducted. SMN News tried to contact the Director on several occasions but he could not be reached by telephone.
Sources within the institution said that renovations have to take place inside the entire house of detention but the renovations which were supposed to start three years ago had to be placed on hold because the Minister of Justice refused to send prisoners home to create space for the renovations. "The prison is in a deplorable condition and this is one of the reasons the Prison Inmate Association has been kicking up a storm. The prisoners went as far as striking and have refused to cook for the inmates. But instead of addressing the health hazard at the institution, the Minister of Justice Roland Duncan sought alternative solutions by hiring some workers to work inside the kitchen and prepare the meals for the inmates."
The Pointe Blanche House of Detention is 25 years old and renovations need to take place early. Another problem that is facing the institution is that it is overcrowded. The Minister of Justice Roland Duncan tried to create space by having as much as 150 prisoners at the Simpson Bay Immigration Outpost while part of the Police Holding Cells was turned into a prison. The source said even though the Minister created space at the two other locations for prisoners there is still not enough room for those that are held at the Pointe Blanche Prison to be moved so that renovations can start.
Currently the Minister of Justice is in discussion with Sameer Andrwos to utilize the BOX in Cay Hill for another prison and other justice institutions but to date the agreements with Andrwos have not been finalized. Political pundits have said on numerous occasions that they are watching closely to see how the National Alliance, Democratic Party, and IND Government will deal with the Justice Minister and his BOX project because they criticized the idea when they were in opposition and heard the Justice Minister was in talks with Andrwos for the BOX. Another project the Minister of Justice is working is the Justice Park which is expected to cost one hundred million guilders.
Efforts made to reach the Inspectorate of Health Dr. Earl Best on Tuesday evening proved futile as Dr. Best could not be reached by phone for a comment.
It should be noted that two researchers are expected to visit St. Maarten at the end of the week to conduct inspections at the prison. The two persons that are expected on the island are Vegter and Pesselse. According to well placed sources, the Governor of St. Maarten hired the services of the two researchers to conduct research at the Pointe Blanche Prison. Governor Holiday could not be reached for a comment on this matter.
The European Committee for Prevention and Torture (CPT) compiles annual reports on prisons and other detention facilities. Last year, St. Maarten obtained a very bad report which was handed to the Governor of St. Maarten. One of the greatest fears is that the CPT committee could place St. Maarten as a country that violates human rights and prisoners especially since their prisons are not up to date, then the country will be considered as inhumane and degrading to prisoners. Being on such a list will have dire consequences to the country which thrives on tourism.
In an invited comment, Minister of Justice Roland Duncan said he was made aware of the inspection and the conclusions the Health Inspectorate came to. However, the Minister said he does not have any monies to build a new kitchen for the Pointe Blanche Prison right now. When asked what would he do if he is given a specific time frame in which he must upgrade and renovate the kitchen at the prison, the Minister said he will do his best to comply with the conditions that are set by the Inspectorate of Health. "Reality is I don't have any monies for the renovation." It should also be noted that monies were allocated in the budgets for these projects since 2010 and it is not clear what the Prison management under the helm of Rudsel Ricardo did with these monies that were allocated for prison renovations which was in his year plan. SMN News understands that these institutions are supposed to provide quarterly reports to the Minister of Justice on how they used the monies that were allocated to them and other missions they have undertaken. Another big question is why the Minister of Justice is not using the monies that are in the Crime Fund to deal with urgent matters within the justice Ministry.
Minister Duncan further explained that he has a plan on the Justice Park which would include a kitchen but he is still working on the project which has to be presented to Parliament for approval. When asked by SMN News why he is not in favor of early release of the less dangerous suspects, Minister Duncan said he has a committee that advises him on these matters and when this particular discussion came up he got a negative advice. SMN News asked the Minister of Justice who are the members of this advisory committee which he established to advise him on issues such as these, Minister Duncan said he will not reveal the names of the committee members because he has to protect their well being and safety. However, the Minister did confirm that two persons are expected on St. Maarten at the end of the week to evaluate the prison.
