Both opposition parties back prison review
The Opposition One Bermuda Alliance and the two MP’s elected under the United Bermuda Party Banner have welcomed news of a full-scale prison review.But OBA Shadow Minister of Justice Trevor Moniz has questioned why it took the Government so long to actually carry out the review.“It’s been very clear that Bermuda’s prisons, especially Westgate Correctional Facility; have been in very poor shape for some time,” said Mr Moniz.News of the announcement was reported by this newspaper yesterday. UK prison expert Phil Wheatley, a former Director-General of the British prison service is due to arrive in Bermuda late next week.According to Attorney General and Minister of Justice Kim Wilson, Mr Wheatley will work alongside Government’s Management Services “to conduct a holistic review of the Department of Corrections with the aim of producing a five-year strategic plan, clarify and direct the department mandate with respect to all aspects of policy, leadership, management, operations, infrastructure and legislative reform.”“Mr Wheatley has masterminded the first ever effective performance management system [in] the prison service and delivered significantly improved outcomes, from security to human rights,” said Senator Wilson.When contacted by The Royal Gazette yesterday, Mr Moniz said: “I think the announcement of a review is a good step forward. Mr Wheatley is definitely qualified, but Management Services is definitely not qualified to review the security side of the prisons.”The announcement came less than two weeks after Prison Officers Association Chairman Craig Clarke held a press conference to warn that its just a matter of time before there is all-out anarchy at Westgate.Mr Clarke also warned that officers are confronted with dangerous situations daily on top of discovering illegal drugs, cash, cellphones and weapons inside prison walls.When asked what prison officers at Westgate should do to protect themselves in the interim, Mr Moniz said: “The Government and the Commissioner of Corrections are going to have to just deal with it.“Measures and action should have been taken years ago, I’ve been calling for a review for the past three years, and to take this long there is no excuse.“It took this long clearly because of the lack of political will by this Government,” said Mr Moniz.Meanwhile, UBP MP for St George’s West, Kim Swan said: “This announcement a positive step and we are pleased that the announcement was done jointly with the Prison Officers Association.“We remain concerned for the ongoing safety of prison officers on the front line of duty in the interim, as there is a time line between the review and future implementation of its recommendations.“The job of a Corrections Officer in modern day Bermuda has taken on a greater security risk as the proliferation of the gang culture has changed the mind set and demeanour of prisoners in recent years,” said Mr Swan.“We (UBP) are pleased to learn that the government have taken on board the first recommendation contained in the United Bermuda Party’s Reply to the Budget 2012/13 delivered by our spokesman for Finance Mr. Charlie Swan MP.In that statement, Mr Swan called said national security is a “non-partisan” issue and he expressed “deep concern for the safety of the correction officers on the front line at our prisons”.“With the tremendous shift in the social climate in Bermuda through the proliferation of the gang culture the prisons in Bermuda most definitely have become a more dangerous place to work and require a more careful security scrutiny,” said Mr Swan in the Budget reply statement.“The UBP supports regular reviews of the social and psychological state of Bermuda’s correctional institutions.“In addition, we feel that it is necessary for our prison officers to be kept abreast of modern methods used internationally and that the safety and welfare of the officers will always be a priority. “
The Prison Officers Association has some 208 prison officers to guard Bermuda’s prisons which currently houses approximately 250 inmates, the bulk of inmates are incarcerated at Westgate Correctional Facility.
August 27, 2011: Then Attorney General and Minister of Justice Michael Scott announced that all areas of the prison service will be carefully examined with the aim of producing a five-year strategic plan through an independent review to address officers’ safety concerns about Bermuda’s “new breed of criminal”.
—— The review will specifically look at how gang member inmates are being controlled and the concerns of prison officers who say current legislation is outdated.
—— The review will cover all aspects of policy, leadership, management, operations, infrastructure and legislative reform at Westgate, the Prison Farm and the Co-Ed Facility.
—— Mr Scott said he hoped the review would “pave the way forward in a change in direction” of the Department of Corrections, but he could not predict how long the review would take.
March 3, 2012: POA Chairman Craig Clarke called for a full-scale review again to address the issue of safety in the Island’s Prison Service after another unauthorised package was thrown over prison walls and found to contain illicit drugs and two steak knives.
“Our main concern in the health and safety of our officers and the inmates, we find packages at least once or twice a week, every week. Once upon a time it was just drugs, now they’re sending weapons with the marijuana, cocaine and heroin. Its getting too expensive to house inmates in Bermuda, it costs taxpayers just over $80,000 a year to house each prison inmate, that to me is a waste of the taxpayers money,” said Mr Clarke.
March 6, 2012: A female officer was threatened by an inmate armed with a homemade shank at Westgate Correctional Facility. A random search has turned up a slew of other weapons inside the prison. The search was conducted Wednesday, February 29. .Items seized included four cellphones, two brand new industrial ice-picks, one homemade ice-pick, eight homemade shanks and a black tar-like substance.
Commissioner of Corrections Lt Col Edward Lamb said: “The threat against the officer situation was well-handled by officers, the matter was defused quite quickly and charges are pending against the inmate in question, appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken,” said Mr Lamb
One Bermuda Alliance MP Trevor Moniz, the Shadow Minister of Justice said: “The officers are justified to have concerns for their safety. This gang situation is going to become like a snowball. Whenever I hear a public utterance from the Commissioner it’s about how sorry he feels for the boys in the prison, it’s not about his job which is running a high security prison.
“The first thing I would do is have HM’s Prison Inspectorate come and give us a formal review. I’m deeply disturbed that that hasn’t taken place.”
March 27, 2012: About 70 Department of Corrections staff complaining of continued Government inaction over security, health and safety issues marched on Cabinet to present a statement of grievances to Premier Paula Cox and Justice Minister Kim Wilson.
Accepting the document, Senator Wilson pledged that a review of the prison services, promised in August, would be completed by the end of May.
Sen Wilson said many of the group’s concerns had already been recognised by Government and could be dealt with. “Others are more long term, and would have to be budgeted for in the upcoming year. “
March 28, 2012: A security fence now being erected at Westgate is expected to better secure the prison perimeter, said Commissioner of Corrections Edward Lamb. His announcement followed complaints from POA Chairman Craig Clarke that weapons were being smuggled into Westgate.
Sen Wilson pledged that Government would complete a review of prison service conditions by the end of May.
Asked about the review promised in August by then-Justice Minister Michael Scott, Mr Clarke said problems with security, safety and health date back to a 2001 board of inquiry.
“We have asked, we have waited, we have been patient,” he said. “This is for the men and women who risk their lives up there, and who feel disrespected. We need some action.”
He accused Government of “lacking the will to fix the problem”, adding: “They pump millions into the front end, but the back end is unseen. Who cares what happens in prison?”
March 31, 2012: Opposition head Craig Cannonier took Government to task in the wake of the Prison Officers Association march on Cabinet.
Mr Cannonier said the One Bermuda Alliance shared POA concerns, adding that the problems “require urgent action now”.
April 25, 2012: Armed with photographs of illegal drugs, cash and cellphones, Prison Officers Association President Craig Clarke warned it’s just a matter of time before there is all-out anarchy at Bermuda’s maximum security prison.
Commissioner of Corrections Edward Lamb hit back and said: “I think it is rather pessimistic to use the term ‘anarchy’ because that implies a lack of command and control on the part of officers. There is no question about my concerns for the welfare and safety of my officers and staff,,” said Mr Lamb
POA members gathered at the Devonshire Rec yesterday where the chairman said: “It may be time for the Commissioner to go look for greener pastures or go somewhere, he may not be the right man to lead the Bermuda Department of Corrections, but that’s my opinion.”
The comment triggered a big round of applause by association members.
Minister of Justice Kim Wilson expressed disappointment. “I am dismayed and concerned by the comments of the chair of the POA concerning security and operations within the Department of Corrections. Government is taking tangible steps to address the concerns and I am satisfied that such matters are being progressed as diligently as possible,” said Sen. Wilson.
