Acting Prison Superintendent Kenrick Jean-Jacques told the closing of the Criminal Session of the High Court earlier this week that they are working hard to ensure that a proper “buffer zone” is established so as to protect the State Prison, located at Stockfarm.
His comments were made in answer to questions from Special Prosecutor attached to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Keith Scotland and high court Judge Victoria Charles-Clarke.
He expressed concerns that persons are still sending drugs over the fence to inmates at the facility but pointed out that when the buffer zone, which includes the re-fencing and installation of cameras, is created in 2017, that will be eliminated.
“Currently, we are involved in creating a buffer zone and funding for that is expected to be approved by January 2017,” he said.
Jean-Jacques told the court that the prison is built to accommodate 250 inmates and at present there is a population of 208 which is made of 204 males and four females.
He also disclosed that 14 inmates are currently engaged in writing the Caribbean Secondary Examination (C-Sec) in May 2017 and they also have counselors doing work with drug offenders.
The prison he disclosed is self-sufficient with its poultry and piggery, all aimed at feeding inmates.
Jean-Jacques also said that they are in the process of making the maximum security block more comfortable to include toilets.
At present, he said, there are 12 inmates housed at the maximum security block of the prison. The prison chief also expressed concerns about the ceramic toilets at the prison saying “they are not prison user-friendly and will soon be replaced.”
Off the 208 inmates, 93 males came from the magistrate’s court along with 2 females, while 50 males came from the High Court.
On remand are 49 males and 2 females, with 12 males awaiting trial. Seven foreigners are inmates at the prison which include a combination of Haitian, Chinese and Jamaican/Dominican Republic nationals.
There are three juveniles at the prison, one is convicted and housed with the other inmates while the 2 others are on remand.
Jean-Jacques disclosed that there are three inmates per cell while in the dormitory section 30-33 inmates are housed in that department.
He was told that in future, his information to the court should be “compiled in a report form, sent to the court and form part of the court documents as is done in other jurisdiction.”
Prisoners are still using pot cham to pu pu in the prison ?, the united nation, and the red cross need to visit the stock farm, the pit latrine should start at the prison.
Long over due, do they have guard towers at stock farm ? ,there should be an outer, and an inner perimeter fence around the prison to prevent escapes and people throwing drugs over the fence , if there is a road adjacent to the prison there should be limited access to that road to avoid escapes, and the criminal elements.
It is about time!
“Jean-Jacques also said that they are in the process of making the maximum security block more comfortable to include toilets.”
I guess the pit toilet eradication project, did not make it to the prison yet.
“The prison chief also expressed concerns about the ceramic toilets at the prison saying “they are not prison user-friendly and will soon be replaced.”
With all the passport monies that are being stolen by this government, the toilets in the prison are still below standard. While the well connected continue to travel the globe at tax payers expense, we continue to house criminals in deplorable and inhumane conditions.
A a he dat acting in dat post? When the done say we victimising and only our people we putting in position. Is dis the same guy who married to PARTRICK JOHN DAUGHTER? Congratulations arevin orderrrrrr
You sound like a beff monger. More interested in knowing who than what. The article isnt about who married who with your us and them or we and they talk. We are all one dominica.
They will just use a catapalt for more distance. If i was really inclined i would invest in a drone and just drop it. another idea could be to dig a tunnel. soo many options. the state prison is a farce. The prisoners run the prison.
204 males, did they have single parentage? did they come from poor families? were they unemployed? This is way too much prisoners for a small society like Dominica.
A few years ago DNO posted an article pertaining to those who throw drugs over the fence for prisoners. I suppose they pre-planned it so that the prisoners will know and be present when the drugs are thrown over the fence and will pick them up.
I had commented that a higher fence could be built with barbed wire on top. All the same, what is presently planned by the prison officials should suffice.
Do not wait too long to build this fence and install cameras. These will greatly help, to catch the perpetrators, should they dare throw drugs over the fence for the intended prisoner(s) to pick up. These will be caught.
Pleased to read that some prisoners are studying for a higher education and others receive counseling. Hopefully, in time, crimes will be eliminated or almost eliminated in Dominica.
Prison authorities, keep up the good work. All those who are assisting the inmates to build a better law-abiding life, when released, God bless all of you.
That is a good idea, people too desperate to get in for free food and shelter.