Minister in the Ministry of National Security Donna Cox says there are ongoing discussions with stakeholders with respect to a prison complex on Caroni lands.
She was speaking in a brief interview at the passing out parade at the Golden Grove Prison, Arouca on Thursday. "The land was bought already and we are waiting to see what the prison services wants and what they would like. The State needs to find more space and approval for 50 acres of land," she said. The modern services includes the construction of a correctional complex in Central Trinidad, prison complex in Tobago, visitor facility at Golden Grove Prison and prison officers training facility. Cox said the government had been actively looking for land, but land owners had beentheir prices when the government attempted to purchase property. "Land is expensive. When we (government) approached them the prices went up when they knew it was the government," she said. Referring to the Chaguaramas heliport, Cox said arrangements were ongoing for a container to house officers who wait to go to the Carrera Island Prison.
The area has improved, she said. With regards to the investigation into the alleged 2005 and 2006 Budget acquisition allocation of $3 million to source a launch, she said: "I was not there (in government) at the time." Cox said parking accommodations for the officers at the Port-of-Spain Prison were being arranged. "The project manager is looking for land for a parking lot. We have approached the Ministry of Agriculture and Community Development for land at the Queen's Park Savannah," she said. Meanwhile, Cox said the Ministry strongly condemned the shooting of prison officer, Anthony Sinanan. "It was an act of violence against officers and we see it as an act on law enforcement on the whole." "I hope that this is an isolated incident and not the beginning of open warfare against hardworking, dedicated and responsible prison officers. I wish to assure you that this incident would not be treated lightly," Cox said.
She said the fight against crime was the government's number one priority and the forefront of its agenda. The parade was in honour of 198 new recruits. The crowds praised the drills in self defence, agility, vaults, baton and crowd control. Acting Commissioner of Prisons, Martin Martinez, warned the new officers that they could be targeted, injured and even killed.
"I hope the episode on Monday was not the beginning of a dark night," Martinez said. He said the officers should not see themselves as guards to deprive people of their liberty, or vigilantes, whose business is to inflict punishment already imposed by the judicial authorities. "Instead you must see yourselves as career prison officers," Martinez said.
