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VI Gov’t to pay $269K to St Lucia for accommodating VI prisoners

- prisoners were sent to country after Her Majesty's Prison received extensive damages due to September 2017 hurricanes
The Cabinet of the Virgin Islands has approved payments of $269,940 to be paid to the Government of St. Lucia, for accommodating prisoners as a result of hurricane damage to the Her Majesty’s Prison. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The Cabinet of the Virgin Islands has approved payments of $269,940 to be paid to the Government of St Lucia, for accommodating prisoners as a result of damages to the Her Majesty’s Prison by hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.

This information was revealed via the post-cabinet meeting statement of August 25, 2021, released on Thursday, September 2, 2021.

In 2017, the Virgin Islands sent a group of 21 prisoners to be housed in St Lucia following extensive damages to Her Majesty’s Prison. After the prison was damaged, the inmates had left the facility although most returned and others were recaptured.

There have been calls for the Commission of Inquiry to investigate the incident of the prison breach. HMP falls under the Governor's Office.

'Most dangerous' of prisoners were sent to St Lucia

Many of the prisoners sent to St Lucia had committed serious offences including murder, attempted murder, and firearm charges and were described as being the "most dangerous" among the prison population of 143 inmates.

The VI payments will be made to the Accountant General, Government of St Lucia; however, it remains unclear when the Government will be handing over the money.

All 21 prisoners who were transferred to St Lucia were eventually returned to the VI in 2018 after repair works to improve security at the HM prison had been completed.

6 Responses to “VI Gov’t to pay $269K to St Lucia for accommodating VI prisoners”

  • Bdhd (03/09/2021, 14:51) Like (4) Dislike (8) Reply
    They came back with scabies and bed bugs. I don't know what kind of prison they are running down there but it sure ain't healthy.
    • and (03/09/2021, 19:01) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      They went to prison not a Country Club . The government can pay all this money and can’t pay the officers better. Much put things in place for it to be more of a rehabilitation so that when the prisoners come out they will know how to get back into Society . By the way I don’t care where the officers are from .
    • hmmm (03/09/2021, 23:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      You gave it to them
  • hmmm (03/09/2021, 17:58) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Only now all my tax my gone !!!
  • WOW (04/09/2021, 04:58) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    Taxpayers in this territory are taken advantage of. Instead of the territory benefitting from the taxes it is all going out.. The people needs to stand up and say this is wrong.
  • Des (05/09/2021, 12:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    can we get a breakdown of how this figure came about!?


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