UK sends 14 Prison Officers to Her Majesty’s Prison @ Balsam Ghut!
Well they might be wrong, as the United Kingdom (UK) Government has sent to Tortola some 14 Prison Officers to be assigned to the Government owned penitentiary located at Balsam Ghut on the main island of Tortola.
The 14 prison officers, who happened to be all Caucasians and include 5 females, took up duties this week and, according to Superintendent of Prisons Mr David E. Foot, they are here to “train” the local staff and “help to look at systems as the prison rebuilds.” They are expected to be in the Territory for 6 months and the UK is expected to pay their salaries.
Who asked for prison officers?
It is unclear how much of the financial burden the local government is undertaking; however, Mr Foot disclosed that "both the Minister of Education and the Governor agreed to the UK Officers coming to the Territory..."
Mr Foot, who had been out on sick leave for some time with eye surgery but returned to office late last week, is expected to leave office within a few months.
Many residents and families of inmates still have not recovered from the decision to have their loved ones being shipped off by the National Democratic Party Administration to St Lucia last year.
To date, the local Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL), who shares some responsibilities with the UK appointed Governor for Prison services, could not tell the people when the prisoners will be returned to the Virgin Islands (VI) from St Lucia.
2 Inmates still on the run
Following the killer storm of September 2017 Her Majesty’s Prison was also destroyed and prisoners were out free for some weeks, but many have voluntarily returned and others recaptured. To date there are still 2 prisoners on the run and it is believed they may have already fled the VI.
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24 Responses to “UK sends 14 Prison Officers to Her Majesty’s Prison @ Balsam Ghut!”
Something s wrong with d system that ppl can mount up years get n a pay check n not producing.
Rehabilitation s a joke.
Ppl can take one year sick leave n work n wit no consequence.
While others r loyal to the inmates.
I hope the english fix this prison for once.
Cannot have officers doing as they like n politian playing politics wit d prison
I m glad these guys r here welcome to tortola. Make ur present be felt.
The jail, one of the last capital project funded by the UK, was battered by Hurricane Irma and needs repairing. It was poorly led and managed for several years, since the retiring of the late former Supt. Ashford Frett. However, the schools were also damaged and needs repairing. Has the UK ever funded a high school or other institution of higher learning? Educating Virgin Islanders is more important than jailing them. Are Virgin Islanders to assume that the UK is quick to spring to action to jail them but slow as molasses to educate them? Who to blame for this nightmare——-VI people or the UK? The next generation of leaders are spending non production time at Balo; they are not contributing anything to national productivity. A tectonic shift is needed in our outlook and priorities.
While we were busy pursuing the BIGS (Big Job, Big Car, Big House, Big Flashy Bling, Big Fashion) the country slipped away from us. The Brits are coming; they are coming back as they did in TCI. They are strategically and tactically making their move, ie, RVIPF, Finance, Jail, Civil Service, Courts, Public prosecution among other things. We have to blame ourselves. But we better wake from our self inflicted slumber or when we awake our roles may be relegated to being heavy lifters and gofers. Barry say you will hear. Our destination is being shaped wid our eyes wide open; that is good thing. If our eyes were closed, oh boi.
Can u imagine a prisoner saying they don't want the meal that was prepared for them and flipping over the plate in the officer's face and sending them back to bring what they want to eat?
New government all round needed, let the UK run the show until we have got rid of many of the issues outstanding.
Government is really discouraging people to stay and help build a future, especially long term residents without a belonged status.
Perhaps no black Scottish prison service staff wanted to come and work here.
If we hadn't let it get in such a mess we wouldn't need the help.
Over use of the race card will eventually make it worthless.