Progress atNorthward Reviewed as Governor Tours
Recent progress and ongoing enhancementsat Her Majesty's Prison Northward were reviewed, and a new processingcentre opened, during a visit by His Excellency the Governor,Peter J. Smith CBE, and Mrs. Smith Thursday, 20 December.
The tour was led by Prison Director JohnForster and included Deputy Director Claira Range, Assistant DirectorsRon Oldfield and Frank Marshall, and Senior Officer Stephen Capener.Also on the tour was Mr. Michael Peart, a visiting guest of theSmiths. Mr. Pearce is a former High Commissioner to Fiji and hasexperience working in the U.K. prison service.
The inmate population yesterday was 209males, with 23 female inmates being held at the Fairbanks location.Officials noted that most of the damage resulting from the recentdisturbance had been corrected, "With the hard work of staffand inmates, and with the generous support of the wider community."
In his remarks at the processing centre,the Governor said, "It is almost hopeless that a buildinglike this, which is an essential part of an efficient operation,had to be funded largely by begging and borrowing, and relyingon the good grace of companies." His wife Suzanne, who "hasa keen interest in developments at Northward," had also givenpersonal financial support to the project. The governor thankedall who made the project a reality, and met with the inmates whoworked on the project.
The new air-conditioned building catersto inmates travelling to or from court, being handed over by theRCIP, the hospital, or on final discharge from Northward.
Facilities include an initial holding cell,a changing room, a second holding cell and changing room, showersand toilets, a clothing exchange/uniform room, and a third holdingcell for those ready to leave the building. The unique one-wayprocessing system is used in reverse when inmates are being returnedto the institution. Also included in the building is an equippeddental room.
Thanking all involved, including the inmates,the Prison Director said it was Lead Officer Collins' idea tolocate the new facility in the destroyed auto mechanic shop. Hecommended Mr. Oldfield and Prison Officer Tyrone Farnum for theircritical roles in the project.
The tour party also visited the new two-storeyvisitors' block/administration room. The ground floor will serveas a visitors' room, while the upper section will allow on-sitestaff training, meetings of the parole board, staff meetings andother prison-related functions. Now in the final state of construction,this building will be opened in the new year.
While much of the materials for the twobuilding projects were recycled from the old hospital and TentCity sites, much was also given by companies and individuals,including A.L. Thompson, Cayman Coating, Uncle Bill's, Serve-U-Well,Flowers, Quarry Products, Phillips Electrical, Watler Metals,Cox Lumber and Mr. Lee Ritch.
A primary point of the official visit wasthe proposed young prisoners' holding area. Located at one endof the former female wing, it can accommodate up to 14 inmates.The youth section features a separate recreation area as wellas processing and meeting room for visits. The other end of thebuilding is for "enhanced prisoners" who are low-risk,drug-free, and well-behaved.
Commenting on these arrangements, the directoradded, "No one thinks this is an ideal solution, but, allthings considered it is reasonable." Elaborating on the newrelationship with the Ministry for Community Services, Mr. Forstersaid that the working circle includes Department of Social Servicesand the Cayman Islands Marine Institute (CIMI), who are "Workingtowards an integration of their respective programmes, which willthen be suitably applied."
Commenting on the decision to transfer theprison service to the responsibility of an elected official (theHon Dr. Frank McField) Mr. Smith said, "This was a very positivestep. We now have to grasp reality and turn Northward into theefficient operation that it should be. "
Mr. Forster in turn noted that Northwardwas not designed for the multi-purpose role it serves, but stepshave been taken to physically separate the compounds of variousoffenders, including new walled areas for maximum security exerciseand separating the young prisoners. "We have already establisheda very good working relationship with the ministry which is nowresponsible for prisons, and the approach is pro-active and no-nonsense."
Before leaving, the party visited the bungalowwhich has recently been converted as a hostel to house inmateswho are "in transition" to their freedom. The formerstaff housing now accommodates six prisoners who work regularlyoutside the compound. Unsupervised, they return each evening tothe prison until their final release is approved.