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Reports of alleged jailbreak @ HMP

-Lone male escapee reportedly back in lockups
Reports reaching our news centre is that sometime around 8:00 AM yesterday, Friday, October 4, 2019, a prisoner reportedly went missing from Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) in Balsam Ghut on Tortola. Photo: VINO/File
His Excellency Augustus J. U. Jaspert and HMP Superintendent, St. Lucian National, Verne A. G. Garde. Photo: VINO/File/Internet Source
His Excellency Augustus J. U. Jaspert and HMP Superintendent, St. Lucian National, Verne A. G. Garde. Photo: VINO/File/Internet Source
BALSAM GHUT, Tortola, VI - Reports reaching our news centre is that sometime around 8:00am yesterday, Friday, October 4, 2019, a prisoner reportedly went missing from Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) in Balsam Ghut on Tortola.

While our newsroom is receiving multiple conflicting reports over the matter, it is still unclear whether there was an escape or if the male prisoner with the last name 'Harris' was given permission to leave the compound.

It is believed that he was allegedly seen in Road Town, on the main island of Tortola and sources also indicate that the male inmate is believed to be a worker on the prison farm.

Inmate Back in Prison

However, later the same day, it was reported that the inmate had returned to to the Balsam Ghut compound and according to more sources familiar with the incident, the inmate's short escape caused HMP to go on a temporary lockdown.

It is unclear how the male inmate allegedly escaped from the Territory's lone penitentiary.

On a call to HMP Superintendent and St. Lucian National, Verne A. G. Garde tonight Saturday, October 5, 2019, he indicated that given the nature of the reports, he was unable to confirm 'security' information over the telephone. 

Poor prison conditions

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.

In 2018, many inmates spoke out about their inhumane treatment and decried the high level of unhealthy foods they were given at the government-run facility.

Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) will bring more information as it becomes available. 

31 Responses to “Reports of alleged jailbreak @ HMP”

  • locals (05/10/2019, 19:14) Like (13) Dislike (19) Reply
    The St. Lucian man needs to GO!!!
  • pat (05/10/2019, 19:16) Like (13) Dislike (10) Reply
    Again!!!! we need to send these men back to St. Lucia lol
  • Echo (05/10/2019, 19:20) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    The thing start the thing start
  • GG (05/10/2019, 19:28) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    He not confirming means something is up
    • @ wow (05/10/2019, 19:40) Like (13) Dislike (7) Reply
      He better remember funny man is not his boss any more and this is a new transparent government
  • Attica (05/10/2019, 20:04) Like (23) Dislike (3) Reply
    "Inhumane treatment and unhealthy foods" lol wow!! Simple...if you can't do the time, don't do the crime.
  • foote (05/10/2019, 22:10) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    they fired me for this
  • tell mi (06/10/2019, 09:14) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    it had a escape few months back I was told that the inmate was not charge he is set for release, now this, he going to sweep this under the rug to?
    is this the St Lucian way of dealing with escape?
  • cell 5 (06/10/2019, 09:15) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Chriptopher is a kiss up to this man but he going get burn
  • Real Talk (06/10/2019, 09:23) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    the bus with no door was seen in east end with inmates who doing time for murder the driver in the bus sitting and the inmates in the supermarket so if one take a small walk what's the big deal?
  • visitor (06/10/2019, 09:30) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    I go up there to visit I see the boy who they say shoot the boy over brandy wine bay with the girl at the front gate asking me to help me with my bag I nearly pissed myself how I was frighten. what kind of prison that?
  • my interest (06/10/2019, 09:37) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    poem night and cows anyone else have a problem? now you know
  • So true (06/10/2019, 10:28) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    All these unresolved issues at the prison and it looks like he will secure another two years. To do what, make professional criminals. What other skill is he offering other than framing?
  • @ So true (06/10/2019, 11:30) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    he have the prison truck with 4 inmates on the back all over Tortola say they looking for grass to feed his cows from Monday to Saturday all day, they out going to every drug area and the prison yard full of grass covering the wings them. I wonder why they don't want the grass in the yard cut? officers cant even check the fence.
  • Echo wing (06/10/2019, 12:03) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    They really need to seriously reshuffling the prison.if your not vincy you cannot get a position in the jail.every week you haveca 100 sick call people getting the government money and not working for it.them three with the smelly oil they wear one employee smell it took in sick.what a thing.
  • Funny how (06/10/2019, 12:35) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I wonder why they have not disabled the comments in this article yet. They were quick to do it in the last article which highlighted the 14 idiot's the Superintendent promoted.
  • @ visit (06/10/2019, 14:06) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    as soon as you park IN front the gate they dont have on uniform an them just begging you money and giving you number telling you to top them up. wat ah thing its very uncomfortable
  • Yea I said it (06/10/2019, 17:04) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Prisoners here need some kind of uniform. A bright orange jumpsuit with HMP printed on the back. Ministers there posing for pics looking photo op.
  • wow (06/10/2019, 19:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Harris? Hmm you guys don’t know how talented that guy thinks he is.
  • Dipset (06/10/2019, 21:05) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    There are to many stories on the street.this prison needs government intervention someone is going to get killed up there before its all said and done.
  • Foolishness (07/10/2019, 09:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The amount fuel to drive around all day, island wide to cut grass to feed 10 -12 cows . Imagine that for a year of our tax money. They's nothing so inmates could learn a skill, just. Eat. And sleep , and this government can't see this man is and issue
  • Mr Gaurd (07/10/2019, 11:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This my useless officers here commenting on me like that because them want my position trying their best to undermine me....
  • BIG DOG (07/10/2019, 16:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The last escape Percival charge the office and the prisoner haven't charged this one sweep under the carpet again ....the government needs to investigate some of these promotions as well because the process wasn't properly dome


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