Minister of Justice Herbert Volney has shot back at critics, saying the Government will be moving in the very near future to purchase the property on which the Eastern Correctional and Rehabilitation Centre was built at Santa Rosa in Arima. The prison was a main focus of discussion at Tuesday's Senate sitting in which statements were raised by Opposition senator Fitzgerald Hinds who criticised the Government for spending $850,000 a month in rental fees.
Responding to the issue yesterday, Volney defended the Government, saying there was never any intention to continue to rent or lease the property for any long period of time. "The matter is currently engaging the Cabinet's attention and a decision is expected to be made soon," he said. "The primary aim of this Government is never to squander taxpayers' money which has always been consistent with Government's policy and therefore we would be looking at purchasing very soon rather then renting," Volney said.
He said the issue was currently engaging the attention of attorneys. And Commissioner of Prisons Martin Martinez has also criticised detractors for branding the facility as a total waste, insisting that the initiative carried the total support of the entire prisons administration. "I would never say the Eastern Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility is a waste...It has a useful purpose and it is definitely serving that purpose," he said.
He added that the main thrust of the facility was geared towards rehabilitation and restoration. "We can't be talking about one thing and doing another," he said. "We are moving towards rehabilitating and reintegrating people back into the society and if that is to happen, we must have the proper facilities in place and that's where the Eastern Correctional and Rehabilitation Centre plays a very important part."
Saying that the facility was designed to hold some 500 inmates, Martinez said thus far, the occupancy figure was between 90 and 120 prisoners. Asked when the facility would be brought up to its maximum capacity, Martinez said that would depend on the infrastructure work which was yet to be completed. "The basic housing area is already there, but we have to include other support facilities...we still have to get a kitchen and laundry going properly," he said.
"The welfare section is already completed, but we have build classrooms." He described the eastern facility as an opportunity to pave the way forward in a "very meaningful way" for prisons transformation. The prison was built to house detainees during the State of Emergency last year.