The Prisons Officers' Association is calling on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, who is also head of the National Security Council, and acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams to tell the nation how high-powered weapons were allowed into the Port-of-Spain State Prison, Frederick Street, and then passed to inmates Allan "Scanny" Martin, Hassan Atwell and Christopher "Monster" Selby, allowing them to bolt from the facility on July 24, 2015.
In a full-page article placed by the association in Monday's newspaper, head of the association Ceron Richards also laid heavy criticism on the Public Service Commission for what the association said was a deliberate dragging of the feet on the matter.
He added that there have been several other outstanding matters, some dating back to several years which to date have not been resolved.
Contacted on Monday, Richards demanded that the commission convene its prosecutorial procedures with haste.
He also added that the subsequent suspension of Prisons Officer 11, Lancelot Duntin and acting Supt Wilber Lovell for neglect of duty as unjustified, saying the officers were used as scapegoats.
"It is woefully wrong for the commission to drag its foot on this matter since every month becomes more agonising for these officers. After one year the commission is not ready to prosecute the matter although their suspensions and charges came with such expediency," Richards said.
He said the officers received information about the escape mere moments before it was about to take place, adding that it was virtually impossible for them to act.
"They were suspended because of receiving information and not acting promptly on it. How could they act within two...three minutes of receiving the information. When they tried to put something in place it was already too late," Richards asked.
He said the real question that remained was how the weapons entered the prison, which to date has been either left unanswered or totally ignored by the relevant authorities.
"They don't know why the officers were suspended. They don't know where the focus is as far as the investigation is concerned and whether or not the focus of the investigation is geared towards revealing who brought in the guns or caused the guns to be brought in.
"Secondly, what went wrong on the day that facilitated the guns and the grenades being used in such an escape. So there is a lot of unanswered questions and the public would like to know," Richards said.
He said other officers who were on duty at the time of the incident were also in need of closure as they too must be given answers to these questions.
"They want to know that while on duty another such incident cannot happen again. We are not seeing anything that such closure would come any time soon," Richards said.
He said the matter had traumatised not only the entire country but also tarnished the image of the Prisons Service.
A detailed report from the Police Service, Richards demanded, must also be made public regarding the status of the probe.
He also urged that National Security Minister Edmund Dillon advocate for the matter to be thoroughly investigated, "so that the truth may be unearthed and the culpable persons be held accountable within the perimeter of the law."
During the daring prison break, prisons officer Leon Rouse was shot and wounded. PC Sherman Maynard was killed in the fracas.
Prisoner Martin was killed, and Hassan Atwell was also killed by members of the Rasta City gang after hiding out in Port-of-Spain. Selby, 30, surrendered himself to officers at the Barataria Police Station hours later.
He was subsequently charged with ten offences, including the murder of PC Maynard.
When contacted, acting CoP Williams said the association had matters before the court regarding the safety and security of their officers and therefore he declined to comment on the issue.
An official at the Commission described the association's claims as unfounded, adding that it was dealing with the matter as efficiently as it could.
COURT MATTER
In July this year the association filed a complaint in the Industrial Court against the State for not following the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA) at the Remand Yard of the Golden Grove Prison in Arouca.
The respondents in the matter were then minister of justice Prakash Ramadhar, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Angela Sinaswee-Gervais and Commissioner of Prisons Sterling Stewart.
Through its lawyers, the association is seeking an order or orders that each of the respondents pay $20,000 to the Consolidation Fund of T&T for each breach of the OSH Act.