Murder convict heading to Mental Health Centre – workers concerned; Senior cop explains

A concerned citizen has questioned the “breakneck speed” at which authorities are moving to prepare the Mental Health Center to house an inmate of His Majesty’s Prison convicted of murder. A facility is said to be under construction on the premises of the Mental Health Centre to house Webster Woodley on his release.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that plans are being made to house criminally insane inmate, Woodley, at the country’s lone mental health institution in Villa where he is set to complete the remainder of his 25-year term of imprisonment for murder.

Woodley, who has been described as “a threat” in a letter to the Editor of SEARCHLIGHT written by a “long-standing” member of the civil service, was fingered as chief suspect in a number of homicide related incidents in the early 2000’s.

Back in 2004, he was found guilty of killing taxi operator, Peter Kazamana Joseph during a robbery committed the previous year. At the time, High Court Judge, Justice Kathy-ann Latchoo, described the manner in which Joseph was executed as “chilling”.

Woodley had also been charged and sentenced back in 2010, along with co-accused Sheldon Bain, of murder; however their conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2011 based on prejudicial evidence.

“This has ramifications for numerous persons, including but not limited to, all personnel employed at the facility and other patients. As a matter of public record, the mental health facility doesn’t have the necessary security measures to house dangerous criminals, even those who have served their sentence. To send a former prisoner who committed violent crimes to the mental health facility sets a dangerous precedent for similar cases to follow suit. If this person is a threat to the point that he cannot be in his own community, then why should he be housed among the most vulnerable people in the country?” the letter, written under the psuedonymn JohnQ Public Vincy states.

However, a top cop recently made a public statement on the matter, seeking to allay the fears expressed by personnel of the mental health facility and the wider Vincentian public.

Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Trevor “Buju” Bailey, speaking on the April 8, 2025 AMMayhem morning show on Hot 97.1 said he understands the concerns expressed by the public. However, he believes the arrangements being made for Woodley will not put staff at risk.

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