-relying on statement during budget debate
Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee yesterday said he was not “prepared to comment” on allegations made about the Georgetown Prison being short of staff.
Following the attempted escape of 18-year-old Theon Smith last Friday afternoon a source close to the Georgetown Prisons had said that the inmate jumped from an unmanned observation post (OP). The source alleged that there were not enough prison officers to ensure that the prison’s four OPs were staffed at all times.
When contacted yesterday about this alleged staffing issue Rohee stated that he’d already addressed the matter and referred this newspaper to his speech made during the budget debate earlier this year. He further refused to say anything about the Friday afternoon incident or the long hours allegedly worked by prison officers.
“I’m not prepared to comment on that matter,” the minister said yesterday. “I’ve addressed that issue several times…during my budget speech.”
Meanwhile, Director of Prisons Dale Erskine said that he could not say anything about the matter and advised that the Ministry of Home Affairs be asked for a comment.
“Well, I won’t be able to comment,” Erskine said. “The Ministry [of Home Affairs] would like to make that comment.”
Months after walking through the front gate of the Georgetown Prisons, Smith jumped from the facility’s south eastern OP in a daring attempt to escape on Friday afternoon. Smith was sentenced to 15 years last October by Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson for several robberies he admitted committing and escape from lawful custody.
Smith, the prison source had told this newspaper, attended service at the Prison’s chapel earlier in the afternoon. After the service was over Smith somehow made his way to the top of the OP located at the south eastern corner of the facility at John and D’ Urban streets.
“He left Church and went up to the OP [observation post],” the source had said. “He jump from at the top there into John Street and fractured his leg.”
The inmate’s freedom was brief; a woman saw him limping along D’ Urban Street shortly after and immediately informed police.
The Georgetown Prisons, according to the source, has four OPs but at the time Smith attempted his jump to freedom they were all empty. Shortage of staff, the source had said, is to be blamed for this flaw in the facility’s security.
“All the OPs were empty because there are not enough ranks to assign to them,” the source explained. “Right now Prison Officers are under pressure because they are forced to work 14 hours.”
After working such long hours and taking on the responsibility of four persons, the source explained, towards the end of their work day prison officers are not as alert as they should be.
This latest attempt to escape comes after a dramatic bid in December, 2008 by six others.
The prisoners held for serious crimes attempted to escape from the Georgetown Prison on December 28 but only one managed to scale the fence and he was eventually recaptured in Rasville as a result of quick action by members of the Joint Services.
