Philipsburg:--- "The Prison renovations are not on hold and I need to set the record straight because I read in one of the Daily Newspapers that I have placed the renovations on hold, I would like to know who told the reporter that," said Minister of Justice Roland Duncan in an interview with SMN News on Friday.The Minister said he needs to renovate several of the cell blocks and the only way to do that is to take the prisoners out of the prison. Minister Duncan said he has made provisions for the prisoners to sleep at the Simpson Bay outpost at night while they will be transported in the day to the Pointe Blanche Prison where they would eat and have their recreation.
The Minister said he would need extra security to have that done but he does not see any problems in executing his plans. Minister Duncan said people can be critical but at the same time they also need to be realistic in solving the problems at the Pointe Blanche Prison. He said he has no choice but to repair the cell blocks and the only way to do so is to take the prisoners out. "If anyone else has a better plan than the one I have they can let me know and I will gladly follow their plan," Minister Duncan said.
When asked how he intends to transport the prisoners from Pointe Blanche to Simpson Bay every day, the Minister said he has armored vehicles as well as adequate security and buses in place. He called on the public not to panic since the necessary measures will be taken to secure everyone's interests.
Checkmate Security Guards --- "I have serious problems with Prison Guards but no complaints about Security Guards."
As for the hiring of Checkmate Security Guards who are assisting in manning the prison Minister Duncan said when he took office he met Checkmate at the prison. "Checkmate Security Guards have been working at the Prison close to five years now and since taking office I have not received any complaints about them." He said he recently received a long list of complaints from the Prison Inmate Association and there is nothing in that list about the private security guards.
The Minister said if anyone has any information on the Checkmate Security Guards then they should approach him with it so he can deal with the matter adequately. Minister Duncan said when he took office he met the contract of the Central Government and he simply cannot go and change the contract haphazardly.
The Justice Minister said he discussed the issue of security at the prison on more than one occasion. He said thus far he has dealt with the matter of extra security while he also dealt with matters relating to improper behavior from civil servants (Prison Guards). "Right now the Prosecutors Office has two Prison Guards as suspects of a robbery which took place at the Pointe Blanche Prison. We also have items such as drugs, cellular phones and weapons that are passed on to prisoners which are a serious security breach that I have to deal with." The Justice Minister said he is asking the members of the public which includes the unions to give him an opportunity to do his job. The Minister said he met with a member of the union Keturah Brown to discuss some of the issues relating to Prison Guards such as absenteeism. He said the union told him he needs to deal with the problem and intends to do just that. "I might have to end up dismissing some of the Prison Guards who are always absent from work. I would also have to deal with those guards who are breaching security at the prison which I believe the union must address because I will deal with it also. We are recruiting new people and I don't want to put to new employees in the wrong environment."