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HM prisoners reportedly being tased in face & head

- Hon Melvin M. Turnbull calls for guards to watch guards @ facility
In serious allegations against the management of Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) about the treatment of inmates, Second District Representative in the Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly (HoA) Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) says that on a recent visit to the Balsam Ghut facility, prisoners reported that they were being tased in the head and face while being handcuffed. VINO/File
Hon Melvin M. Turnbull made the revelation at the December 13, 2019, budget debates during the continuation of the Second Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA). Photo: VINO/File
Hon Melvin M. Turnbull made the revelation at the December 13, 2019, budget debates during the continuation of the Second Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA). Photo: VINO/File
Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) is being run by Superintendent, Verne A. G. Garde of St Lucia. Photo: HoA/File
Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) is being run by Superintendent, Verne A. G. Garde of St Lucia. Photo: HoA/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - In serious allegations against the management of Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) about the treatment of inmates, Second District Representative in the Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly (HoA) Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) says that on a recent visit to the Balsam Ghut facility, prisoners reported they were being tased in the head and face while being handcuffed.

Hon Turnbull made the revelation at the December 13, 2019, budget debates during the continuation of the Second Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA). 

"Listening to the concerns of the prisoners and Hon Smith [Neville A. Smith (AL)] and Hon Penn [Marlon A. Penn (R8)] were there as well...  we need to ensure, Mr Speaker, that yes they are incarcerated but we need to ensure that there is some guard watching the guard," Hon Turnbull told the House.

Hon Turnbull continued, "because the reports that I was made aware of, and we might have our own opinions... what we think about them or the crime that they may be incarcerated or even on remand for, but some of the instances that I was made aware of Mr Speaker it just can't be right that persons are being treated like that," he said.

HM Prison under Fire 

Currently, HMP is being run by Superintendent Verne A. G. Garde of St Lucia. Over the 2019 year, the institution has seen several reports of inhumane treatment by prisoners, poor food and a recent alleged October jailbreak which was neither denied nor confirmed by the Superintendent.

According to Hon Turnbull, "When you [are] going [to] hear reports from three or four different inmates about persons being tased in their face and in their head, something is wrong."

Calls to the mobile telephone of Superintendent Mr Garde by Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) to respond to the allegations went unanswered.

30 Responses to “HM prisoners reportedly being tased in face & head”

  • Hitler (19/12/2019, 19:45) Like (10) Dislike (23) Reply
    Like is a concentration camp this St. Lucian running?. Everytime this St. Lucian in the news never something good.
    • @Hitler (20/12/2019, 17:47) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      Shut your lying A** up. If it was a concentration camp the prisoners would be on lock down 24/7, the house fence around the prison would be a 6foot cement wall and they would be sleeping on the bare floor with a blanket or sheet and they would be eating pig slop for their meals. I never heard of a concentration camp where prisoners wear street clothes and jewelry. And on any given one can pass by the prison and interact with prisoners through the the house fence.
  • 5 star (19/12/2019, 20:24) Like (49) Dislike (14) Reply
    All I can do is laugh. I dont think that's a prison, it's more like a 5 Star Hotel , where prisoners have access to cellphones and drugs and choose what they want to eat. It is simple, if you can't do the time , dont do the crime. Maybe Mitch should go and bottle feed them and tuck them in at night.
    • Really (19/12/2019, 21:07) Like (41) Dislike (3) Reply
      Did Mitch ask any of the prison officers why some of the prisoners were being tased??
      It's easy to criticise when u r not on the battle field.
      • eyes (20/12/2019, 11:50) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
        Mitch don't be let a stray these two brothers from St Kitts believe that they own the prison and that's a fact either we have a prison or a daycare . They out of control they need to be sent to the UK the prison officers fear their lives Because of the two , hope the tase put some sense in his head . Oh by the way Mitch they the one bring the news tell you that they were beating on an inmate because he did not share his weed with them.
    • Hey I’m a police (19/12/2019, 23:25) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      Police behind the desk can’t work the beat type this lol
  • Chase he out (19/12/2019, 20:39) Like (11) Dislike (18) Reply
    My run bf the st luncian needs to go
  • Concerned (19/12/2019, 22:40) Like (36) Dislike (3) Reply

    It's funny these politicians never come sit down with officers to talk but have conversations with a couple inmates who causing havoc in the institution and go to parliament to talk crap. Does inmates has more rights than officers? How much officers got assaulted over the years and nothing was done? Tase his a** yes so they will stop terrorizing officers and inmates. Talk to the officers sir before you go to parliament until then dont speak from a one sided story. Officers have rights too. When an inmate can tell an officer " if you lock me down i going call my representative and get out" then that shit happened what are officers to do? Officers are paid to keep inmates in custody and treat them humanely if the inmates dont comply officers have a right to use force as long as it's not more than necessary. Did the politician ask who the inmate was,if so he would realise what a nuisance he is in the prison. I'm not an officer but i have relatives as inmates and officers. It's time for prison officers be treated with respect and an important facet of national security.

  • facts (19/12/2019, 23:23) Like (6) Dislike (20) Reply
    I have your back Mitch this is the bvi not st lucia
  • All I can say (20/12/2019, 00:53) Like (26) Dislike (2) Reply
    There’s a lot of killers up there that is why it’s so quiet out here and if you think for one second that they are role models up there let them get out ,play politics with them and you will have more than funerals to go to and there’s a set of do call high ups in society who sends them to kill and rob can’t you see the place is quiet no murders and robberies like it was before because the animals are in the can
    • And you know what? (20/12/2019, 16:45) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
      Some of those killers that he is standing up for in prison about inhumane treatment is connected or had some type of involvement in a lot of the unsolved. Mitch you're an A**. Most of them deserve to be tased in their mouths for being so damn rude and disrespectful. There is other more pressing issues that should be discussed in HOA, not some damn criminal getting tased in the mouth and head.
    • family (21/12/2019, 08:36) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      Quiet? With two double murders several attempts and gun play like rain for the past four to five years nothing ant slow down but the circulation in your brain.
  • Dear Mr. MT FROM D2 (20/12/2019, 08:59) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply

    What is your angle man? CAN YOU PROVE IT? What INHUMANE TREATMENT. HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE INHUMANE TREATMENT THAT WAS INFLICTED ON THE VICTIMS BY THE SAME ANIMALS THAT YOU ARE DEFENDING? GO SET UP A ORGANIZATION FOR CRIME VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND SPEAK UP FOR THE VICTIMS. THE TASER NEED TO BE AIMED AT THEIR MOUNTAIN OYSTERS. ZAP, OUCH.

  • I always knew (20/12/2019, 09:09) Like (25) Dislike (1) Reply
    Mitch didnot have much common sense. What about the victim families Mitch. You up here defending a bunch of criminals. What exactly should a prison guard do if he give a order and the inmate is disrespectful and want to challenge a order and lay his hands on the said officer? Mitch, go find something else to do, get a hobby. Go advocate for the victims and their family not a bunch of criminals that is being supported on the tax payers dime.
    • Billfargo (21/12/2019, 17:24) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Anyone whose only ambition in life is to make a living on someone elses downfall is like a johncrow waiting for something to die and don’t really deserve any respect!
  • Rediculous (20/12/2019, 09:34) Like (17) Dislike (3) Reply
    I am disappointed that rumors inaccurate information would be filtered down from the very top of the system and persons who are non the wiser would be polluted by the rubbish being spoken. I would like to know who the 'inmates' are who were tasered in the head and face. I would also like to know the circumstances behind these alleged incidents. Unfortunately, when the truth is derived, the damage would have already been done.
    I am certain the Superintendent of Prison was not even contacted to admit or deny these claims. But from the very House of Assembly, the prison management would be placed in the firing line.
    Whether from St. Lucia, Guatemala, Spain, Trinidad or Vietnam, if a Superintendent is chosen to run an institution, he or she should be judged based on their performance, not their place of origin. It is tragic that media continues to fan the flame of prejudice, widening the man-made rift between locals and expats, when the very Premier welcomed over one thousand with open arms in a gesture that spoke about opportunity and unity.
    Regarding the current Superintendent of Prison and the allegations against his management, I have seen and can testify that Mr. Verne Garde has come to the territory with more experience, knowledge and know-how than any other leader at the institution and it shows in his policy writing, his planning and his execution of policies and procedures. More long-term inmates are benefiting under this Superintendent's management than have any other in the past. That is a fact. He has a no-nonsense approach to management and while fair, he is strict on following protocol. Before persons speak arbitrarily, they ought to get the facts, especially if speaking from places of authority.
  • Guardian Angel (20/12/2019, 10:33) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    Officers working all kind of ungodly hours for pocket change at that institution and are constantly being attacked by these animals. Some of them need to be tasered day and night if you ask me. Some of them need real gun shots to keep them under control. The prisoners have more rights and protection up at that Prison. Under the previous Superintendent, I have seen Officers injured at the hands of these animals and nothing had been done.
  • reality (20/12/2019, 12:11) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    I go to the Prison regularly to visit my love one and the behavior and the threats that some of these Prisoners make towards the Guards, the Guards have all right to do what they have to do. They're very rude, disrespectful and out of order. The thing is, it's the same violent ones who cause problems all the time and then have the nerve to complain. All they need to do is serve their time in a peaceful way. They want to do what they want and when that can't happen, it's a problem. They rude on the streets and they take it there as well.
    Always bear in mind, there's two (2) sides to a story so they need to say what caused them to be tased. All they need to do is behave them damn selves.
  • solution (20/12/2019, 12:26) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Solution to the problem. Mitch, why don't u resign your present post and go up there go run the prison?
  • solution (20/12/2019, 12:28) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    And bingo!! We would have killed two birds with one stone - prison properly run and a local in the position.
  • I will say it (20/12/2019, 13:56) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    There has to be a reason for them to complain about getting tased in the mouth and head. NO PRISON GUARD IS GOING TO TASE A INMATE FOR NO REASON. SO THEY SHOULD JUST SIT BACK AND LET A INMATE TALK TO THEM IN ANY MANNER/ LAY HANDS ON THEM AND NOT PROTECT THEMSELVES? INHUMANE TREATMENT MY A**. When they they were snuffing out their victims lives that was INHUMANE. YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF RESPECT MT FROM D2 IF YOU HAD MET WITH CRIME VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND SHOW THEM THAT SOMEONE IN GOVERNMENT TRULY CARES. BUT,YOUR DUMB A** CHOOSE TO MEET WITH A BUNCH OF CRIMINALS WITH THEIR BULL***T ABOUT INHUMANE TREATMENT. IF YOU GOTTA TASE EM, YOU GO FOR THE MOUNTAIN OYSTERS.
  • Really (20/12/2019, 16:32) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    Poor food? Just where the heck these guys think they are? Leave it up to me, they would be eating a slice of bread, a biscuit with gravy beans and a glass of water for breakfast, lunch and dinner.They give up their freedom on food choices when they made the choice to go to prison.
  • So Mitch (20/12/2019, 16:50) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why don't you take the job in the prison and watch the guards. Go protect the damn criminals you claim is getting inhumane treatment and poor food.
  • You see (20/12/2019, 17:28) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    The other two, Sheep and Penn kept their mouths shut. They know they would have gotten blasted by the public. Also they could have told him to not bring that up in the House of Cards. You should have put more of an interest in the victims famalies and stand up for them in the House of cards not some criminal.
    • Sheep and Penn (20/12/2019, 18:05) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Don't say a word about this even though you were with Mitch at the prison.Let Mitch take the roasting on line for being stupid and making himself look stupid for listening to those two con men evil brothers.
  • This man (20/12/2019, 17:54) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Will never learn. I guess the short man syndrome has kicked in once again. Mitch has no business being in Politics.
  • bvi (20/12/2019, 20:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mitch is a true patriac u all go .....k ur self
  • Hmm (21/12/2019, 08:40) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    A lot of your families will innocently fall jail and dem same two brothers going deal with dem for u....
  • voice (21/12/2019, 17:35) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    every one is missing the point Mitch is on to something, the comments just shows the level of thinking from those taking offence
    if the S O P did what he says he would do the Government would not be expose to law suit, those taser should be last resort in the prison setting, and if a officer life is not a risk or there are no weapon involve those tasers should not be deployed, officer are train to negotiate and restrain,
    to my point that head of prison feels he can turn water into wine by not training the staff and pushing them into decision making roles
    he wants no one around him who dear challenge him.
    you have to say yes to every thing he tell you to do or if not you dont have a future in the work place.
    so every one who sits around him regardless to how unsafe the order is they have to say yes sir
    Mitch keep digging you unto something.
  • bad training selection (21/12/2019, 17:59) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    he stop the police from doing the training and have he bag boy who cant speak English and never had no expertise in this field with 3yrs service as training officer
    if the officers were train by the police officer who does the training they would of being told not to shoot{ because face, head, chest and genitals are off limit.} #S O P IS A FAKE


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