Being allowed to have guns while off-duty, bullet-proof vests and housing in safe areas are some of the main concerns raised yesterday during a high-powered meeting among stakeholders in the prisons sector.Justice Minister Emmanuel George presided over the meeting at his Port-of-Spain office.
Also attending were Commissioner of Prisons Martin Martinez, deputy Commissioner of Prisons Allan Jones, acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams and managing director of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Jearlean John.Prisons officers have been taking industrial action since the murder of prisons officer Andy Rogers last week at Daniel Trace, Malabar.In a telephone interview yesterday, George said: "The prisons officers have been taking some industrial action by all appearance.
"The demands of the prisons officers are essentially that they want to be able to carry a firearm. They want to have protective clothing and houses."George said it was Williams' recommendation there shouldbe legislation that had severe penalties to perpetrators in the event of the death or injury of a prisons officer."I have agreed to take steps towards legislation. With the protective vests I will take that to the National Security Council for discussion," he added.
George said the right for officers to bear guns was left up to the Commissioner of Police.The minister said the police agreed to have surveillance and security for prison officers who were under threat."The Commissioner of Police immediately informed all the stations that any threats to officers be treated with urgency and an added level of seriousness," he added.
With regards to their housing problems, John told George that ten per cent of officers under National Security were allocated houses."I have still requested a listing of the prisons officers who have outstanding applications to forward it to HDC," he said.George said prison overcrowding and the length of time cases were called were actively being pursued.Referring to the inmates, George said they would be affected but their lives were not being threatened.
However, he added, it was alarming the inmates had cellphones to contact members of the media.Meanwhile, inmates at the Remand Yard, Golden Grove Prison, Arouca, yesterday described the situation as "chaotic.""We didn't get diet for the day. It have no court, no visits, people running out of things to eat... it causing a rift with inmates, some fighting and not getting an opportunity to bathe," an inmate said.
"We have been staying in contact with other inmates and this is happening in every prison. We need to get our visits, diets and airing. It is our constitutional right and we will take action against the state," he added.