PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The prisons in Trinidad and Tobago are not now more overcrowded than they were prior to the State of Emergency, since provisions have been made to accommodate those arrested and charged.
That was the declaration from Prisons Commissioner John Rougier on Tuesday at the daily national security press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair, Port of Spain.
Rougier said prior to the State of Emergency the prison population was about 3800. It has now been increased by 521 bringing the total population to 4321.
Commissioner of Prisons John Rougier
He said accommodation was made for the new inmates — who have all been charged, in a facility designated for high risk prisoners. Rougier said the high risk facility catered for 350 persons but housed only 16 persons.
Other highlights are:
• The prison at Santa Rosa has the capacity to accommodate up to 1,000 persons;
• Government has allocated in excess of $2 million to the prison system enabling it to cater for additional inmates and staff;
• The prison service is staffed and equipped to supervise and manage the system as prison officers have been called from vacation leave and there are officers in training;
• The total number of arrests during the State of Emergency to date is 1,477 of which 432 are gang related;
• Over the last 24 hours there have been 40 arrests — six gang related; one homicide; 10 drug related; 2 for breach of curfew; nine serious offences and three on outstanding warrants;
