BVI News

2 guards put on ‘administrative leave’ after prison stabbing — NSC

BVI News photograph of a prison officer.

The two senior officers who were on duty during Sunday’s stabbing incident at Her Majesty’s Prison have been placed on administrative leave, pending further investigation.

The National Security Council (NSC) made this decision when it met today to discuss the fatal incident that led to the death of 29-year-old Nickhail Chambers and the injury of three others.

A late-night statement from the NSC on Monday further said the Council instructed that immediate steps be taken to enhance the supervision of prisoners at the prison, “and more importantly, that an internal inquiry be launched into the events on the weekend”.

“The NSC also instructed that a wider external review of security arrangements at Her Majesty’s Prison should be commissioned and of importance, noted the current investigation into the wounding and murder at the prison under the active investigation of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force’s Major Incident Team,” the statement said.

A total of four inmates were stabbed in what has been described as a violent altercation among several persons incarcerated at the facility.

Three of the four inmates sustained serious stab wounds and were taken to the Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital where one of the stab victims — Chambers — subsequently died. Chambers is a Jamaican who was serving time at the prison for his one-man role in the attempted murder of his former schoolmate back in 2017.

In an update this afternoon, the RVIPF said two men have been arrested but no charges have yet been laid. This follows Social Development Minister Carvin Malone’s previous statement that one person had been formally charged. 

READ: NSC’s full statement

The National Security Council considers matters relating to internal security and any significant security developments in the Territory, including the occurrence of significant criminal activity. The body comprises the Governor, as Chairman; the Premier; one other Minister, who is the Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Agriculture and Fisheries; the Attorney General (ex-officio) and the Commissioner of Police (ex-officio).

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21 Comments

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  1. First District Representative says:

    There is no curruption in the Virgin Islands.

    Like 11
    Dislike 9
    • Yup says:

      Agreed

      Just like there are no guns, officers running drugs, government bogus contracts, and evil cats.

      Like 38
      Dislike 2
      • The real solution says:

        Out source prison security for more descipline, more respect, better security, better rehabilitation..

        Like 3
        Dislike 1
    • Red shoes says:

      What you said no corruption in the bvi something wrong with you

      • Yes says:

        All cameras off dont you think the govt knows but he say all is well and and my people suppose to be in top position so they can break all the laws .they throwing stuff over the fence all thing.

      • heartless says:

        something more than wrong with them they acting blind to every damn thing….and not paying attention to the right things you going to tell me a place where you are kept for punishment they up there living better than people who are doing 8 to 5 job and then because they talk the truth about the slackness the getting all mad why??.. wake up B.v.I people this Island too small for this bs.. they need to be sent to the down island jails and they would know what jail is.. i bet are you’ll get are s**t together…

      • Hmmm says:

        They were just being sarcastic.

  2. bad behavior says:

    Plenty of those guards need firing for the kind of photos i see coming from behind those prison walls

    Like 30
    Dislike 1
  3. Fittest says:

    Protect the vulnerable at the prison, inmates forced to do for self!

  4. Culture Change...This is Weak. says:

    Suspending two officers is a Joke,,The Prison needs a complete cultural change. As a matter afact this move also is proof that The NSC is part of the problem with this weak move..This fight and stabbing just didnt happen it had to be a build up, so what happen to all the officers who saw this conflict building up and did nothing to correct the issue and ease the tention..

    Like 17
  5. The real solution says:

    Out source prison security for more descipline, more respect, better security, better rehabilitation..

  6. Serious Matter says:

    That’s a good start by putting those guards on Administrator Leave becuz I heard the guards are the ones who let this wicked St.Kitts boy out to attack and kill the deceased.
    It’s sad and if this is the truth, they need to be charged for MURDER as well.
    A lot of these Prison Officers are allegedly being paid to do illegal activities for inmates.
    They’’re the ones bringing in the drugs, cell phones, weapons and so on. They’re on these inmate payrolls.
    The Government need to get rid of the majority of them becuz they’re corrupt, big time.
    You don’t put Rat to mind Cheese.
    The RVIPF need to do Random Raids at the Prison and for God Sake, DO NOT let NO ONE at the Prison know when u’re coming becuz the Prison Guards always let some inmates know that the Police are coming.
    They need to be LOCKED UP and the Metal Gates shut with them on the opposite side.

    Like 17
    • DSMFH says:

      The Government doesn’t need to get rid of the corrupt Officers, They just need to make them examples if they survive after they become permanent fixtures they could consider themselves lucky. This straw should break the caramels Back. We need to make every effort to rid the systems of corruption. A minimum of Life imprisonment for officers found guilty of any misdemeanor.

  7. @FED UP says:

    WITH THAT OTHER SITE ONE PERSON ALONG WITH A COUPLE OF PAID CANARIES BLOGGING IN SUPPORT OF THEIR MASTER / I REALLY THINK THEY CAN ISE THEIR CHEAP TRICKS TO CREATE OLD TALK / ITS MOT GOING TO WORK

  8. Concern citizen says:

    PLEASE START ISSUING ALL INMATES A PRISON UNIFORM WITH THEIR INMATE NUMBER ON UNIFORM. THOSE BIG GOLD CHAINS THAT THEY ARE WEARING FREELY CAN BE USED AS A WEAPON TOWARDS OTHER INMATES AND STAFF. THOSE CAPS AND RAGS THAT THEY HAVE ON THEIR HEADS CAN BE USED TO HIDE WEAPONS AND DRUGS. ANYONE AT ANYTIME CAN PASS BY THE PRISON AND PASS WEAPONS AND DRUGS THROUGH OR OVER THAT YARD FENCE UP THE HILL. INMATES SHOULD BE BEHIND A CONCRETE WALL NOT A GARDEN FENCE. ONE DAY, THEY ARE GOING TO HOLD ALL THE STAFF MEMBERS HOSTAGE IN THAT SAME PRISON IF THINGS IS NOT PUT IN ORDER.

    Like 24
    Dislike 1
  9. Balo says:

    Yes…and find out why there is so much drugs up in that prison…and cellphones…and internet access….those jail cells should be deadzones for celltowers… all of these things need to be looked into…if the guards ain’t corrupt none of these things would happen. Prison calling hits on people from the inside. Bring back hard labour please.

    Like 12
  10. Justice says:

    If the guards enabled this attack by intention then they too need to be charged with aiding and abetting. And the Government needs to get sued for negligence in failing to protect inmates…where’s your CCTV camera? The family members of the injured and slain may have only 6 months to file the lawsuit against the Government otherwise they may not have a claim because of the Public Authorities Protection Act.

  11. BVI Future says:

    Two problems we must address to rectify what happened at this prison. First, the BVI government and its’ citizens operates as a family unit. This is the reason why those who are incarcerated can wear street clothes, gold chain etc. We want them to feel as part of our family. Families do not want other family members to wear indiscriminately clothes. Second, the BVI government and its’ citizens will have to admit its failure if they outsource correction officers’ positions. BV Islanders will then complain about expats taking their good jobs. This would not work. Some of us BV Islanders need to be train in exceptional customer services and our civic duty to the BVI and to the world on whole.

    Like 3
    Dislike 2
  12. The Nation speaks says:

    Yes it is perhaps time that inmates must wear a uniform that identifies them from members of the public. Lots of things seem to be out of place in HMP. What was Jaspert and all the other Governors doing?

  13. Pete says:

    All these tugs need to wear uniforms with numbers on them. Time for all this wickedness to stop.

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