Minister of National Security Stuart Young is urging prison officers to stand strong and resist walking off the job in the wake of yesterday's murder of their colleague Darren Francis.
His comments came during a live interview on CNC3's Business Watch last night.
“I implore them not to walk off their job. At the end of the day, unfortunately, there is danger associated with their job and unfortunately that danger has been heightened by the illegal activities that are taking place in the prisons in the past.”
He added, “As we had indicated a few weeks ago, we've put an inter-agency operation that includes the Defence Force and TTPS that are operating on the prisons now and we will continue as a Government and as a Minister of National Security to do all that we possibly can to work along with the Prison's Service to ensure the safety and security of prison officers.”
He said one of the main issues the prison system faced was the number of illegal items and contraband items that are taken onto compounds, something the Prison Service is now seeking to combat.
"So we stand in solidarity with the prison officers. They have my full commitment,” Young said.
“As they know, I've been working very closely with them. I've made two visits to the prisons already; to the Port-of-Spain prison, to Remand Yard and Maximum Security Prison in Arouca and I am committed, as is the Government through me, to working fully with the Prison's Service to do what we can.”
The minister also expressed condolences to the friends, family and colleagues of Francis, who was shot dead around 4 am outside his Indian Walk, Princes Town home.
