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Her Majesty’s Prison: Tortola Hilton Hotel & Resort?

- Caller, talk show host say prison too “relaxing”, not striking terror on criminals
Speak out BVI host Douglas Wheatley says Her Majesty’s Prison, Balsum Ghut is a place where criminals relax, he suggest that the government makes penalties more severe. Photo: VINO/file
Talk show host, Douglas Wheatley.
Talk show host, Douglas Wheatley.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – One resident came up with a new name for Her Majesty’s Prison at Balsum Ghut, referring to the penitentiary as “Tortola Hilton Hotel and Resort” since inmates seem to be eating and living better than innocent people in the Territory.

The caller was at the time airing his concern on the issue of punishment for crimes on local radio talk show Speak Out BVI, aired on May 15, 2012.

“The penalties are not striking terror or fear to the people committing crimes, prisoners at the prison get better food than some of the free and innocent people in Tortola,” said the caller who noted that those who commit crimes should not be living a reasonable life while in punishment.

Host of the show, Doug Wheatley said there are a lot of problems in the prison system and from time to time there are cell phones found on the compound.

“Prisoners are living the life… the only thing that the prison prohibits is freedom of movement.”

He also agreed that the prison is not a scary place for criminals who do not seem to mind spending a couple of months there as it seems to strike no fear in them.

He suggested that government makes the penalties more severe and also agreed that inmates at the prison are too relaxed and “this should not be.”

“When a person got to jail they should not come out the same way they went in, they should come out more positive minded and ready to be a contributor to society and their own life,” said Wheatley.

Mr. Wheatley stated that persons aren’t scared to go to prison because the prison offers a steady meal plan and other ‘goodies’. He added that the prisoners are relaxing in prison, when they should go out and clean up the communities.

“It is not healthy for the prisoners to be sitting around.”

Rehabilitation Centres and alternative punishments for minor crime

Addressing the issue of prison overcrowd, Wheatley is recommending criminals with minor charges be sent to rehabilitation centers or given community service.

Wheatley stated that the Government should find ways to decrease its prison population and find other ways of helping and correcting the people of the VI.

“Majority of the individuals in prison are dealing with minor cannabis cases, if a person is caught with a very small amount of marijuana, why should they serve time in prison?” He added that some people use cannabis for personal use.

He said the Law Reform Commission Committee have in the past dealt with an alternative law on alternative sentencing, meaning that not everything has to go through the court, and sending everybody to prison. He suggested that this be revisited and applied more often.

In another example he stated that, “When a person is sent to prison for child support another way should be executed to deal with this matter rather than sentencing the individual to time in prison.”

23 Responses to “Her Majesty’s Prison: Tortola Hilton Hotel & Resort?”

  • confused (17/05/2012, 08:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I think all prisoners should be forced to work on "chain gangs" and work long days to clean up the island....
    • Well Well (17/05/2012, 11:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      IM WITH YOU FORCES TO WORK.
      • foxy (17/05/2012, 18:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        but some of you out and do not want to look work mussless them who lock down strupppps
    • human rights (17/05/2012, 12:45) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      remeber they have rights too so hush wid tis opressive opinion
      • clear the air (17/05/2012, 23:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        all you who thinks its a hotel and resort should go spend 6mths in there under holder the terrer
  • Iron Lion (17/05/2012, 09:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    them boy up there on facebook more than we out here, eating 3 squares even picking and choosing when they are vegetarians lol
    • polo (17/05/2012, 10:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Well if they need to save we the tax payers from the prison hotel mentality they need to think outside the box like electronic bracelets and a curfew.
    • prisioner (17/05/2012, 13:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Iron lion........we don't be on facebook often so stop spreading lies
  • Truth Is (17/05/2012, 09:42) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Government need to put them to do the bush cutting work and stop paying thousand of dollars every year to have this done. Go up there, all of them fat like thevies..only in the BVI I see this happening. In other countries, prisioners out on the streets cleaning...up there is like a hotel, motel holiday inn...
    • My Humble Opinion (17/05/2012, 11:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      LOL @ "fat like theives" are you forgetting, some of them are thieves that's why they up there lol, but i get where you're coming from though.
    • Facts (20/05/2012, 08:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Always only in the bvi. Your statement is incorrect and if people do not know better when some of you talk, they will really think that only tortola is messed up.
  • mother hen (17/05/2012, 10:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Once your freedom is gone the issue of hotel becomes irrelevant
    • Disgusted of the sad comments... (17/05/2012, 15:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I, myself, was just wondering if taking their freedom away was not the idea.
  • hmmmmm (17/05/2012, 11:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    these prisoners surely got it good here, even in the states u can see prisoners (those on good behaviour) cleaning the high ways..........
  • stop it (17/05/2012, 11:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    THAT PRISON IS NO HOTEl. because sly people break the rules other people getting the wrong impression. WhY DON'T YOU people visit the prision and get a tour. Bet your opinion will CHANGE!!
  • Enforcer (17/05/2012, 12:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This prison is more than a hotel. Prisoners can obtain their own cable and tv boxes at their leisure ... and this is a fact. Watching TV in prison in your own private room with your persnal cable box and personal tv! Where else?? Well well
  • Queen Mary (17/05/2012, 13:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Too much of our young boys are going up to the hotel for minor things…the legal system must use probation more.
  • Truththat (17/05/2012, 14:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Prison at Balsum Ghut, referring to the penitentiary as “Tortola Hilton Hotel and Resort” Is the truth too many privileges something needs to be done and fast
  • Guard (17/05/2012, 14:53) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    I would call it a hotel too. The prisoners have access to alcohol, weed & celphone and whatever snacks they want come in. If I had to Oversee the Prison the menu would be bread and cornbeef for breakfast, lunch and dinner with some water to chase it down.
  • i'm just saying (17/05/2012, 18:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    91.3% are in for just *ganja* wow something is wrong, and the truth remains that ganja or herbs have not killed 1 person ever...........so why is it so hard to do something about it? i'm just saying
  • ausar (18/05/2012, 07:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    So a prisoner should be an idiot-the disallowal of TV, computer and books; hungry-the disallowal for food items,even for those with sensitvities to certain food items;total isolation-disallowal for play time and recreation, and physically drained of energy-continous work allowance without rest-Are you people for real or mad? Prisoners have rights. Leaders in this country are here touting about the rights of humans and we would deny prisoners-many of them Virgin Islanders(British), RIGHTS in the land of their birth. I'm very dissappointed in Mr. Wheatley's comments. But then again what to say. He was one of them not too long ago running for a position -and then some, and did not win-father nor son. And now , we're graced on the radio with "cheap" shots being hurled at the NDP. Ironically, when the VIP was in, we heard NOT ONE PEEP out of his mouth about any of the bad things they did. Well, I guess one can look at these comments as another set of "cheap" shots hurled at the NDP and the least fortunate-the prisoners- and will take it all with a grain of salt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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