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HMP inmate assaults 3 prison officers; Police investigating

An inmate at Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) in Balsam Ghut, Tortola, reportedly assaulted three prison officers on Sunday, October 6, 2019. Photo: VINO
Speaking to Virgin Islands News Online, Superintendent of Prison, Mr Verne A. G. Garde, confirmed the assault but did not indicate whether he was one of the victims. Photo: HOA/File
Speaking to Virgin Islands News Online, Superintendent of Prison, Mr Verne A. G. Garde, confirmed the assault but did not indicate whether he was one of the victims. Photo: HOA/File
BALSAM GHUT, Tortola, VI- Reports reaching our newsroom are that on Sunday October 6, 2019 an inmate at Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) in Balsam Ghut, Tortola, reportedly assaulted three prison officers.

The attack reportedly resulted in at least one of the officers having to seek medical attention.

There are also unconfirmed reports that the same inmate, with last name ‘Baronville’, allegedly attacked the Superintendent of Prison, St Lucia national Verne A. G. Garde.

The reports of attack came days after another prisoner escaped from the government-run facility on October 4, 2019.

Is Superintendent Garde the problem?

It is unclear if Mr Garde, who was recruited and hired by the former controversial Minister for Education and Culture and former Legislator, Myron V. Walwyn, has the ability to address the constant instability at the prison.

Speaking to Virgin Islands News Online, Mr Garde confirmed the assault but did not indicate whether he was one of the victims.

“After the assault there was an adjudication process and after the process we had reason to control and restrain that inmate.”

Mr Garde said he could not comment any further since the incident is under police investigation.

The portfolio of Prison Services is shared between the Governor, His Excellency Augustus J. U. Jaspert and the Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL).

17 Responses to “HMP inmate assaults 3 prison officers; Police investigating”

  • Liat 521 (10/10/2019, 17:33) Like (5) Dislike (27) Reply
    The man needs to go! Plain and simple
    • eyes (10/10/2019, 17:59) Like (41) Dislike (2) Reply
      Shut your ass them prisoners need to be kept in line the guards to slack and afraid them . What human rights when you go prison you lose those rights plain and simple. It's a correctional facility not a play ground
      • @eyes (10/10/2019, 22:39) Like (0) Dislike (14) Reply
        You don’t lose nothing but your liberty when you go to prison. Stop talking out your rear end ..
      • GG (13/10/2019, 14:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        And you won't believe is police post this
    • Well Well (10/10/2019, 18:05) Like (24) Dislike (1) Reply
      Will you go and take up his position? And will you be doing a better job than him?
    • whito (10/10/2019, 19:05) Like (9) Dislike (5) Reply
      Bring back the white man, at least he honest
    • Go (11/10/2019, 09:08) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
      We need locals in this job
  • HMP (10/10/2019, 18:05) Like (4) Dislike (22) Reply
    lol he need to get is A** back where he came from them man tired of him up the hill
  • Darkie (10/10/2019, 18:23) Like (22) Dislike (2) Reply
    The
    Man need to go where ? So we can put one of our own up they to cause havoc again. They are some hard ass criminals up they and everywhere you go in the world things do happen in a jail where rules are rested but is how it is dealt with. I guess most of who what he go is because they want the jail to be a hotel again.
  • simple (10/10/2019, 18:28) Like (3) Dislike (9) Reply
    When police involve the media gets involved then everybody else so Mr. Garde do like Mr. Foot and keep what happens at the prison in the prison......#StopCallPolice
  • concerned citizen (10/10/2019, 21:25) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    These inmates need to respect and stop putting their hands on the officers. The laws in BVI needs to change so the officers can buss their asses when they raise their hands on officers. Stop looking at the head and at the inmates who don't have no respect for officers.
  • visitor (11/10/2019, 01:49) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    inmates are always been provoked, there're no way for inmates to reform themselves, learn a skill. They are place back into society to do the same foolishness, seems as no one sees this ongoing problem.
  • bvi (11/10/2019, 03:19) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    As a born BVISLANDER I am always baffled when I here words like “he need to go back where he come from.” Truth be told, when you give locals a change some of them am simply not qualified to do the job they are in. We had a local in the position some years back and we all know how that turned out. The people who are up there at the prison were sent there for a reason. They were sent there because they broke the law and I don’t have no sympathy for none of them up there. I have more sympathy for the members of staff regardless of where they are from. It have some hardened criminals up there and they are beyond rehabilitation. The mistake the UK made was to do away with capital punishment. I hope they bring it back after they leave the EU. BVI
  • Prediction (11/10/2019, 06:33) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    There is a lot more to come in Verene Gods kingdom. When the Leader has a attitude of superiority and surrounds himself with cowardly yes men, the results will be seen.
  • i from here (11/10/2019, 06:45) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Hope weak Christopher man up and takes the job
  • In time to come (11/10/2019, 08:47) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    We need to bring back them guys that took over the prison after the hurricane and show them inmates how prison should be run with law and order thats why when come out they go right back in.
  • rock (11/10/2019, 21:20) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    Wiley yuh can't kool.... garde need to go


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