Prison moves to stop contraband

Her Majesty’s Prison is tightening security at the institution by establishing its own convenience store.

Superintendent Horace Williams, under whose portfolio this outlet falls, said the new system which commenced on Monday, July 12, 2010, is expected to lessen the threat to security at the prison.

Razor blades, sim cards and drugs were identified as items that entered the prison during visitations.

“We have seen where a lot of things have been coming through things like fruits, corn flakes, jams, tooth paste, soap, etc.,” said Williams.

He added: “They would take out the ball from the roll-on and pack things in them.

“We will also be moving to the new facility at Belle Isle in the near future, so we thought it wise to start this system so that when we get into Belle Isle we move with the system,” said Williams.

Williams expressed that the response from the public has been “extremely good”.

He said some persons went as far as stating that the programme should have started a long time ago.

Visitors to the penitentiary now have the option of purchasing items for their loved ones at the prison’s shop or placing the money in the prisoner’s account there.

Prior to the introduction of the new system, visitors were allowed to leave EC$50 in a prisoner’s account. Today that figure has been extended to EC$200.

The shop will be stocked with tooth paste, tooth brushes, soaps, deodorants, corn flakes, sweet and salt biscuits, jams, jellies and fruits.

Williams stated prior to the implementation of the programme, notices were placed in the visitors’ booth as well as another section of the prison.

He said within a week of issuing the notices, prisoners were approaching prison officials to have the programme started “now”.

“They are glad that this system is in place because there was a limited amount of things coming in. As I said because of the security risk we had to limit the things coming in,” said Williams.

He mentioned that a limit was also placed on the quantity of items that visitors brought for the prisoners because the search that was carried out was time consuming.