Under Hon. Walwyn Prison challenges getting worse - 2013 HMP Report
This time it is Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP). This information was obtained via the 2013 HMP Annual Report laid on the Table of the House of Assembly on February 12, 2015.
Worse in the last three years
While the report confirmed that the challenges faced at HMP have been in existence for some time it stated that they are “steadily getting worse as many require an injection of financial and human resources.”
It warned the Ministry and Minister for Prison Services Hon Walwyn that “without intervention and doing something about the issues the optimum fulfillment of the Prison’s mandate will be hard to realize.”
Issues under NDP at HMP
The report stated that in 2013 the roofs of many of the building comprising the Prison compound had asbestos and had badly deteriorated over the years. Whenever it rains, the roof leaks. As a temporary measure, the prison staff used canvas to cover the areas that leak, the report stated.
Another issue raised by the 2013 report is that the Prison is out of space as it was built for a maximum of 120 prisoners, but the population is more than that number. The report called on the Minister to ensure that “the prison facilities be revamped and designed to better meet present and future needs.”
Another challenge that is getting worse under Minister Walwyn is the issue of prison security. The report requested additional security cameras at strategic areas of the prison compound so it can enhance the Prison’s ability to better monitor the institution and deter security breaches.”
Staff training an issue - bad to worse
Another issue that is getting worse under the NDP Administration according to the 2013 HMP Report is administrative matters.
The report called for additional suitably trained staff to ensure that the prison service serves the public by keeping in custody those committed by the court and minimize the risk of escapes and breaches of security.
It appears that there are not even functioning hand radios at the Prison to increase communications among staff and response time to emergency situations and to prevent escalations, according to the report.
‘Do nothing government’- Rajah A Smith
On a recent Virgin Island Party (VIP) Radio Show Youth Leader, Master and Businessman Rajah A. Smith blasted the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government and labeled them the ‘do nothing government’.
Mr. Smith, who is seeking the VIP nomination through its Congress to run At-Large in the 2015/16 general elections, told the public that “in fact, all we have gotten from the NDP for three long years is; we could not do anything for you in sports, in education, on sewerage, in health, in agriculture, in finding employment for youth, in bringing before you gun legislation, in fighting crime, fixing roads, bringing a better way of life for the 99% of you and in stimulating the economy because it’s the Virgin Islands Party’s fault”.
However, Mr Smith, the VIP Ready Committee/Youth Arm President, brushed aside the excuses and the blame game of the ruling NDP and placed the blame squarely on their lap. He said, “my answer to the NDP and their supporters is you have failed the people because of your own incompetence, lack of vision for the country and that you spent more time looking out for yourself and the 1% than the rest of us”.
He said he heard recently some chatter that the NDP is for all the people. According to Mr Smith, “that is rubbish…in fact the record is different, that is why they cannot run on their record”.
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45 Responses to “Under Hon. Walwyn Prison challenges getting worse - 2013 HMP Report ”
Myron for once speak like he on the streets with his bad grammar and we not going there about his writing skills…so ayo need to stop while ayo ahead. We done know which minister cannot spell simple words like -Ministry, Where, Years and Harrigan now go talk that!!!! set of weak silly fools chatting and blogging the same crap all day
Show me a person more illi....te than Rajah and I will show you a blind man that can see..You VIP supporters so simple minded..gosh man!!
Yea Myron jamming me boy LMAO
No BVI voter in their Right Mind would ever consider giving the NDP c.......s their VOTE every again that was their last remnant.