Following statements made by Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander on the decommissioning of the Port of Spain Prison at Thursday’s Post Cabinet Media Briefing, citizens have been having their say on the government’s decision.
TTT News visited the capital city on Friday and spoke to several persons who shared the view that the decommissioning of the Prison in Port of Spain is a move in the right direction.
“I think it’s a good idea because I always find it was crowded and in the middle of the city. So, it doesn’t look too, you know, aesthetic or whatever. So, I think it is a good idea to move it out of there. It doesn’t really serve any purpose and they could do something else with that real estate.”
“Well, I think that’s the right idea because that’s an old prison. As you see, the condition of the prison, it don’t have proper facilities to accommodate people, nah. So, what happen is that my advice is that when they’re building the prison, make it in a way that they could put things in place that the people who on remand for years, they have something to do. You understand? Make it in a way that people could go there and rehabilitate themselves to come back out to society.”
Some made suggestions as to the alternative use of the building and grounds.
“The prison in Port of Spain, they could open a business there and carry everybody up to Arouca, and up there has plenty land. Let them work there.”
“Port of Spain, that prison could develop to some business or something; government business because in Port of Spain, plenty government business crowded. Yeah, crowded. So, that is why I’m saying develop the place.”
“The conditions for the prison is just like to store animals, really. You understand? And it’s unfair for humans because it has innocent people as well that get locked up and they have to be treated that way and they have no compensation if they had to get a lawsuit. Whole years that taking to suffer for so many years. So, I think that’s a good move to make.”
“And then the next place they might go, maybe they could have some more room for the prisoners and stuff. Maybe they could get some more trees and stuff. And, yuh know, heal and be better citizens. So that when the come back out into the community, they could actually add to the community instead of. You know, when you’re in an environment that is dirty and negative, that really can’t do anything to develop a person. So, if they really put them in a better environment, it should work out for everybody.”
“That prison should change years ago. That prison outdated, it too congested inside there. It needs cleaning up. And I really find they should do a better work on that. Change that prison, and when they putting a prison, let them put it out of town. We don’t want no prison in town again.”
Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander announced the government’s intention to decommission the Port of Spain Prison. He said the decommissioning process will be done in four phases, the first entails the relocation of current prisoners.
The facility, which was built over 260 years ago has reportedly been condemned by the courts and has cost the state millions of dollars in damages for breach of the constitutional rights of individuals.
The Minister did not give a firm answer as to what will be done with the facility when fully decommissioned, rather noting that that decision will be made following consultations with stakeholders.