President of the Prisons Officers' Association Ceron Richards is now threatening to take legal action against the Government over its failure to properly address their security concerns for members.
The move comes as a prisons officer was shot outside his home on Tuesday night, in what the POA believe was an attempted hit called from behind prison walls.
Prison officer Kerwin Boswell, who the POA said had made a report this past week that he was concerned for his safety and feared he was being followed, was shot in front his house at Bertrand Street, San Fernando.
Prison officers said he went to the Prison Service administration and made a report that he was being followed.
Police said around 3 am Wednesday Boswell, 42, a Prison Officer 1, had just arrived at his home and getting out his vehicle when he was shot through his abdomen by a gunman who wearing a black hooded sweater and a three-quarter jeans.
Boswell, also known as Buzzy, was taken to San Fernando General Hospital where he was treated. But police said he discharged himself and went to prison infirmary, where he was then referred to Port-of-Spain General Hospital. The incident was reported to the police at 10.45 pm.
Boswell is assigned to the Remand Yard Prison at Golden Grove, Arouca, and is part of a batch of guards who took over duty after inmates rioted two weeks ago when they were searched by prison officers.
In a phone interview Wednesday, Richards said,"He (Boswell) is resting comfortably and he was shot while exiting his car and shot in his abdomen."
"This is a serious confirmation of what we have been saying and not sufficient attention is being paid by the State and by authorities for the safety and security of officers on and off the job.
He said the association had now engaged the services of an attorney and will consider taking legal action on behalf of Boswell and other officers targeted by criminals.
"We have no other choice but to step forward with seeking legal redress against the State for not keeping their responsibilities," he said.
During the past few weeks, prison officers claimed they have been fearing for their safety after they received information that a hit was put out on them from inside the prison. The hitman was offered $50,000 per head.
Commissioner of Prisons Sterling Stewart had said then that he had received reliable information on the hit and advised his guards to be vigilant after they received substantial information about a hit man.
In the past week, houses belonging to several prison officers were shot at by gunmen.
One night, gunmen allegedly kicked down the door of a probation officer who lives in Sangre Grande and who was on duty during the prison search. He was not at home at the time of the invasion.
Attempts to contact Stewart and Justice Minister Prakash Ramadhar were unsuccessfull as there was no immediate response to calls to their cellphones.