Part 1 of a six part series

H. M. Northward Prison - A Look Inside

Much has changed at Northward Prison in recent times since the riots of 1999.
Cayman Net News features writer Judy Tattersall recently got an opportunity to report these changes first-hand.
This is the first in a six-part series of articles which take you behind the walls of Northward.
The episodes will continue everyday over the next week.

By Judy Tattersall

The "Northward Hotel" of new isn't the same as it was in the old days.

No pizza, no cell phones, no free run of the place.

It is back to being Her Majesty's Prison Northward, and although the prisoners might protest, the feeling is that the new administration and the tough regime is better.

Lead Officer Harvard Gouzong has been with the prison for 19 years, and feels proud of his job and the work he is doing.

"The place wasn't that safe for a prisoner, before the riots, because there was little control," explains Oral Roper, an inmate who committed murder and is serving a life sentence. "The system was unreliable, inadequate and corrupt. There were homemade weapons, and there was a hierarchy amongst the prisoners."

"During the riots," adds McAndy Thomas, another lifer at Northwards, "the inmates were fearful for their lives. The officers weren't around protecting. Drugs, cell phones and weapons were everywhere. Remember that the period out of control lasted more than a month. The only thing that was good was the freedom. No one actually likes prison."

Prisoner Oral Roper in his cell in the Enhanced Block at HMP Northward, with his roommate Oscar Solomon. Life in the Enhanced block is a significant improvement over the standard cells.

The riots and unrest that occurred on September 30th, 1999, sparked some changes at HMP Northward.

A major strategic plan was formed by the new director and his top staff, and is carried out as funds become available. Foremost among them was more control, both of the prisoners and by the prisoners.

Two seamstresses, Ana Patricia and Clarisa Zeleja, alter uniforms for the male prisoners, as well as doing any other sewing that is required in the prison.

"We are currently building a new wing that will house the juveniles and the Enhanced Block," explains John Forster, Director at HMP Northward. "And there are plans for complete perimeter lighting, but the most important change has been the staff. There has been a complete turnaround in attitude, and I couldn't ask for a better, more dedicated group."

Three women inmates, in standard prison garb, clown for the camera ­ a diversion from the monotony of regular prison life.

"Also," he added, "as we've added more opportunities for the inmates who maintain discipline and follow orders, we've found that the prisoners themselves are reacting better to their situation."

As plans for the future are slowly turned into reality, the inmates of the prison get on with their day. There aren't as many work programmes as there were with previous administrations as many of the facilities were torched during the riots.

However, as the prisoners are responsible for prison upkeep, they are kept busy painting, gardening, constructing, cleaning and maintaining. These work details are not optional, so the prisoners are not bored.

They can, however, opt out of work details if they prefer to work in the agricultural programme or go to the Education Centre to study.

The agricultural program was started by Ralph Gonzalez, when he was an inmate, and he has since been brought back as a civilian to keep it going.

There are grow boxes within the perimiter of the prison, and what is termed the Farm outside the gates. The produce grown is used in the kitchen to help in the making of the 700-plus meals that are prepared each day.

Any surplus is sold to the general public, either through supermarkets or just through contacts of the prison.

The Education Centre, run by Adam McIntyre, provides all ranges of education, from basic reading and maths through to studying to write the SATs. Most of the teaching is computer-based, coordinated both by Mr. McIntyre and Mrs. Lynne Western-Lait, who has been teaching at HMP Northward for 18 months.

"I previously taught in British prisons; teaching prisoners from young offenders right through to Maximum security. I came here with 15 years experience in the UK, so I'm not surprised by much any more," said Mrs. Western-Lait.

Most of the computers are donated by companies on the island, when they either up-grade their machines and give away their old ones, or if they downsized and got rid of the excess. The Education Centre is the only part of the prison that actively fundraises, as well, through the Rotary Club, which enables them to offer current material and to keep some resources at hand.

The prison was built in 1980-81. Interestingly enough, it was built just around the time that the death penalty was being debated in British Parliament.

In the High Risk Unit, which is on the second floor of a building, there is a high-ceiling room without a regular floor, it is open to the room below. This was to be the gallows. The prison was designed and built to include a gallows, as all British prisons would have one. However, when the death penalty was abolished, the hole was covered with a large metal plate which remains to this day as the floor.

HMP Northward is run by a hierarchy of officers. The Director, Mr. John Forster, oversees the whole prison and is in charge, with the help of a Deputy Director. Then there are two Assistant Directors. These four individuals, with the help of civilian staff, control the administrative side and coordinate the running of the prison.

Then to control the prison itself, there are seven Principal Officers, who run things with the help of twelve Lead Officers in addition to Senior Officers, Line Officers or OSAs, Operational Support Assistants.

The officers and the directors all have uniforms that consist of brown pants and a white shirt, with epaulettes and pips depending on their rank.

The management staff just wears regular civilian clothes. The kitchen staff is all dressed in white, and the maintenance staff wear brown pants with a beige shirt. The prisoners' uniforms are royal blue pants and short-sleeved shirt, both of which are made on premises in the tailoring shop.

So, life at HMP Northward has settled down. There may be no more pizza delivered, but there is a calmness and an order that makes life more pleasant.

Part 2 of this six part series will be published in Cayman Net News next Monday 2 December.

Funds are always in short supply at Her Majesty's Prisons, and the assistance that the community offers is always appreciated. Donations in the past have ranged from books and bathroom items, especially for the women, to backhoes and computers. Microwaves, material, sewing machines, wood working tools, ceramic molds and kiln supports, educational materials, soap, tampons, shampoo and many other items are always welcome. For more information, or to find out where to send your left-overs, contact Assistant Director Oldfield at 947-3000.

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