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by pltm
(PLTM) - The St. Lucia government said that it is ready to repatriate the 21 BVI hardened criminals from its penitentiary back to the Her Majesty’s Prison at Balsam Ghut.
The inmates were transferred to St. Lucia after the September hurricanes, which caused extensive damage to the prison.
St. Lucia is also housing prisoners from the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI).
Last week, St. Lucia’s National Security Minister, Hermangild Francis said that one of the 24 prisoners has so far been repatriated.
“Today, one of them is being repatriated because his sentence in the Turks and Caicos Islands has expired, so we have to send him back. Two Marshals came from the Turks and Caicos Islands and the gentleman has been sent back – so we now have 23,” the National Security Minister explained.
According to media reports in St. Lucia, the Minister said that they will be in touch with the TCI and the BVI as to the condition of the prisons so that as soon as they are satisfied that they are secure, those persons will be repatriated.
He disclosed that although housing the TCI and BVI inmates at the Bordelais Correctional Facility in St. Lucia comes at a cost, St Lucia will be repaid.
The Minister also disclosed that the travelling expenses of the inmates are not St. Lucia’s responsibility.
The BVI has to pay some $78,000.00 to the government of St. Lucia to accommodate the prisoners for six months.
The BVI Government had anticipated that the inmates would have returned by last month.
In January, Hon. Myron Walwyn, Minister of Education and Culture said that repair works on the Balsam Ghut penitentiary have commenced and are progressing well. He had indicated that this will allow for the inmates to return soon.
Government in its Recovery and Development Plan for the Territory, indicated that $10.5M will be needed to repair the prison.
According to the plan, the monies will allow for prison infrastructure repairs, including security fence, infrastructure improvements and expansion, ICT infrastructure, and vehicles.
Ninety percent of the prisoners who were transferred are murder convicts, including expatriates. They are Aaron George; Kareem Durante; Orlando Bonnick; Yan Edwards; Andrew 'Ratty' Milton; Omarie Winter; Kenyatta Boynes ; Alcedo Tyson ; Devin Maduro; Deshawn Stoutt; Matthew Daniel Hazel; Jessroy McKelly; Jevone Demming; Sherman-Abdul Williams; Jerry Martin; Samuel Harris; Alberto Rosa De La Rosa; Lorne Parson; Dennis Dwayne Campbell; Allen Baptiste; and Shakoy Lavacia.
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