Regional support team for prisons

Members attending the Regional Heads of Prison
conference in Montserrat

Wednesday,  December 1, 2004

Prison Directors from Caribbean British Overseas Territories are among islands calling for the creation of a regional support team to be used in times of crisis.

Prison Director of the Cayman Islands Dwight Scott made this revelation on his return from a conference for Caribbean Heads of Prison held recently in Montserrat.

According to Mr Dwight: “This issue was discussed at length and there was consensus: Ivan was a wake up call and a typical example why there is need for such a team that can be dispatched rapidly in time of need.”

The prison facility in Grenada was devastated during the passage of Hurricane Ivan while the Cayman Islands suffered lesser damage, but two prisoners managed to escape and police had to be called in to quell an unrest at Cayman’s Northward Prison.

Disaster preparedness was another issue Mr Scott said was high on the agenda. Some Caribbean countries were reported to have been without a disaster plan, which made it more difficult to cope during and after the passage of Hurricane Ivan.

Mr Scott also stated that at the conference the challenges and trends in the regional prison system were also discussed. 

He said: “We looked at the fact that there are some serious offenders entering the prison system. They are not just ordinary prisoners and they have been repeating. This is of great concern to us.”

A prison officer exchange programme was also agreed upon during the conference.

Mr Scott confirmed: “We already have an exchange programme in place, which has proved to be successful not only in fostering good relations among the prisons of the region, but has been useful in promoting an excellent exchange of information and ideas for improvement.”

However, Mr Scott said that this current exchange programme, which has included the exchange of officers from Cayman and Bermuda, would be strengthened.

He stated: “Our officers use the exchange programme to identify what works and what doesn’t. They not only pick up ideas for solving problems at home but also are able to impart their knowledge to the overseas prison.”

Officers initially take part in a programme designed for them to observe the workings of the overseas prison, however the programme also allows for officers to visit on attachment and are assigned directly to a department or shift.

Mr Scott said: “They get a hands-on look which is more beneficial than just observing.” 

To promote the strengthening of the programme, an officer from Northward Prison will be leaving for Montserrat in December while one from Montserrat will be coming to Northward. Another officer from Bermuda will be visiting Cayman on attachment in January 2005.

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