Senior Reporter
shane.superville@guardian.co.tt
On July 20, 2025, Guardian Media revisited the 2015 Port-of-Spain prison break, seeking answers into the escape that shocked the nation and the criminal investigation that remains unresolved ten years later. This report examines the events of that day and the enduring impact on those involved.
Explosions were heard from behind the prison walls, and in a matter of moments, the ordinary became the unimaginable. Three inmates—Allan “Scanny” Martin, Hassan Atwell, and Christopher “Monster” Selby—armed with two pistols and a hand grenade, overpowered prison staff and escaped.
For Lancelot Duntin, then a Prison Officer II on duty that day, the memory remains vivid.
“I always thought the prison was one of the safest places to work,” Duntin told Guardian Media. He had joined the service in 1990, when such attacks were unheard of. “It was just a government job at the time,” he said. “That type of violence against prison officers simply didn’t happen.”
Duntin had been escorting inmates to the visiting room of the Remand Facility that morning. Around 11:30 a.m., he was instructed not to move a group of inmates known as “the Muslims.” But by the time the message came, the inmates had already left their cells.
Soon after, Duntin heard what he described as the sound of firecrackers.
“I went to investigate. In that viral video that circulated afterward, you can see one of the inmates firing a gun—he was shooting at me. I took cover near the supervisor’s desk. At that moment, I saw death. We had never seen inmates with guns before.”
While Duntin survived, fellow officer Leon Rouse was shot. Wendell Mitchell, Industrial Relations Officer of the Prison Officers’ Association, said Rouse may have survived thanks to a thick book he used as a shield during the attack.
Duntin said the entire breakout, from the moment the prisoners attacked to their exit onto the street, lasted less than five minutes.
A city in lockdown
Within minutes, downtown Port-of-Spain was locked down. Police, prison officers, and Defence Force personnel launched a massive manhunt.
Martin was cornered at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, where a shootout ensued. He was killed. Security guard Anita Bartholomew was shot in the hand during the exchange.
In 2019, Bartholomew sued the State for $87,900 in damages, medical bills, and loss of earnings. She claimed Martin protected her during the incident, contradicting early reports that she was taken hostage. The lawsuit was dismissed by Justice Eleanor Honeywell-Donaldson in 2022.
“Having seen and heard the police officers’ testimony, I hope the claimant understands they meant her no harm,” the judge said. “I recommend that the relevant police unit initiate psychological support to aid her recovery.”
When Guardian Media sought comment from Bartholomew’s employer, Amalgamated Security Services Ltd., the company responded that the matter was “long closed” and declined further comment, citing employee privacy.
But Estate Police Association President Deryck Richardson believes the matter is far from over, calling Bartholomew’s injury part of a broader issue: the undervaluation of private security officers who face real threats on the job.
A prison or a relic?
The escape renewed calls for the closure of the Port-of-Spain Remand Yard, built in 1812 and originally named the Royal Gaol. Despite its age, it remains in active use, housing nearly 300 inmates as of July 2025.
“Once it remains gazetted as a prison, we will continue to operate it,” said Prisons Commissioner Carlos Corraspe in a written response to Guardian Media. He insisted staffing was adequate.
However, Prison Officers’ Association President Gerard Gordon disagrees.
“It’s just you and God in there,” he said. “Imagine managing 600 to 700 inmates with only 10 to 12 officers. Every day, officers bend the rules just to survive.”
Gordon, a vocal critic of the facility’s deteriorating infrastructure and chronic understaffing, continues to lobby for its closure. While short-term repairs have been made, he argues the colonial-era building is beyond meaningful upgrade.
“You can only do so much with a 200-year-old prison that’s still in constant use.”
Former Commissioner Dennis Pulchan echoed that sentiment, recalling an incident where someone threw contraband over the prison wall from Frederick Street.
“Security risks are amplified when a prison is located in a densely populated city centre,” he said.
Former Justice Minister Prakash Ramadhar acknowledged the facility’s shortcomings but said total closure was not practical given overcrowding in other prisons.
“It might be more manageable if only short-term or low-risk offenders were held there,” he said. “The structure is still usable—but with limits.”
Ramadhar also confirmed that during the escape, one of the key CCTV cameras was not working, leaving gaps in surveillance.
A 2017 Joint Select Committee report revealed that although 52 cameras monitored most parts of the facility, key areas—including the infirmary, ration room, and trade shop—were unmonitored at the time.
Justice delayed
As of 2025, Christopher Selby is the only surviving escapee. The Judiciary confirmed that Selby was committed to stand trial on June 6, 2022, and the case file forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Selby has filed a Notice of Intention to Plead Guilty, but the matter remains pending.
When contacted for an update, DPP Roger Gaspard said he did not have immediate details but would respond in due course.
Selby faces multiple charges, including:
The murder of Police Constable Sherman Maynard
Escaping lawful custody
Assaulting prison officers Kerron Prime, Jean Marc Hernandez, and Nicholas Singh
Shooting at officers Leon George and Tisean Francis
Possession of an illegal firearm
Robbery of a Nissan Navara used in the escape
Theft of two prison keys valued at $140
Ten years later, the scars of that day remain etched in the memories of those affected—and the justice system still has unfinished business.
