Prison undermanned! Half of HMP’s senior managers on suspension
Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) in Balsam Ghut is currently facing serious staffing issues — particularly at the senior level — as only half of the facility’s Principal Prison Officers (senior managers at the facility) are at work.
This is because the remaining half has been placed on suspension for more than a year.
Two Principal Prison officers at HMP were placed on suspension for some 30 months while being investigated for misconduct; even as another Principal Officer was recently suspended pending investigation.
This information was disclosed in the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report which indicated that there are only three remaining Principal Prison Officers serving at the facility at this time out of a quota of six officers.
That information was based on an email reportedly sent to the Commission by HMP Superintendent Guy-Michel Hill back in December 2021 as the COI was being conducted.
The disclosure came months after the murder of Nickhail Chambers which was committed at HMP, but it was not revealed in the report whether the suspensions were directly related to that incident.
Two prison officers were placed on administrative leave and later charged by police following the murder of Chambers back in May 2021.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom noted that concerns at the prison led to a comprehensive independent review of security arrangements at the prison facility being directed by the National Security Council (NSC).
Sir Gary said this was deepened by the killing of Chambers earlier that year. The murders subsequently led to five other prisoners being charged with murder.
According to the report, the remit of that ongoing review includes identifying corrupt and otherwise illegal conduct by prison staff. Sir Gary said the review will also consider the extent to which facilities at the prison are safe for both prison officers and prisoners and compliant with the normative human rights of prisoners.
In his report, Sir Gary found that it was clear that there are significant issues arising in the prison service concerning the conduct of prison officers.
However, under the circumstances, and given the Commission’s load in other areas and to avoid compromising the review, he decided not to pursue enquiries into them.
Despite the ongoing review, however, Sir Gary said he felt the future of the prison service should be considered as part of a wider review of law-enforcement agencies that he had proposed.
Meanwhile, the report noted that while the prison, up to 1997, fell under the authority of the police and by extension the Governor as per the constitution, it was currently being overseen by the Minister for Health and Social Development.
Sir Gary said he did not know and the Commission did not investigate why the Minister is in practice in charge of the prison rather than the Governor as prescribed in the legislation.
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Just asking….. Are they being paid while on suspension?
I was wondering the same thing. Let’s hope not!
That’s the norm!
We have plenty of prison wardens and governors who would love to run BVI’s prison during UK’s direct rule of the BVI.
racesoo make people puke every day with the UK come take over every thing rendering.
Why y’all ain’t run it during your regular rule?
And they will stay…
There are many law-abiding citizens in BVI.. its the standard practice that the British, when seconded to overseas territories, don’t fully fill their mandate and nothing is said. They fail to identify suitable candidates to fill the positions, and we, as Black people, don’t say anything and continue to downgrade our people, even the ones who are suitable to full fill the posts.
Even with years and experience to fill the post but then they say you need a degree.
A local with a degree is not the same as person from the UK with a degree
Most of those men act like they never saw women in their life and was sleeping with their coworker. Up to now, I can’t understand how the boasty one was never fired when they found out he was sleeping with the woman SMH
The prison, police, customs and immigration are corrupt and need their own c.o.i
Too many scampish islun man up they
what the gossip queen is saying?
The prison is presently and always been under the UK direct rule as the governor is in charge of there. Hence, it should of already need fixed
Did you read the part about the prison being run by a minister (who is probably also corrupt)?
They prisons office are all corrupt. They sell out the prison to prisoners for a pay check. We need officers who are trained and knows how to say no to who try to bribe them with money. The system are so corrupt.
More reason for direct rule. UK what is taking you so long don’t let us down.
puking again! Damn!
Take responsibility for your own country
Hold those in power accountable
Your, the people of BVI. if you can run your Mouth and make comments on this webpage, then run your mouth when you see or hear about corruption
Black people are always ready to run their people … but there are corrupt white people.
Look at what is going on in the UK with the current Government LYING.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/23/partygate-photos-boris-johnson-dominic-cummings-lockdown-breaches-sue-gray-report
I am a proud prison who work at Her Majesty’s Prison Officer proud because am never involved any form of the corruption going on around me. The level of corruption is among the older set of staff this empower the prisoners to disrespect, verbally abuse, physical abuse and hurt officer cause most of the time nothing come out of it. This Prison is in a state of emergency i beg God to help us as Prison officers bbefore someone else get hurt due to the numerous death threats officers receive each day I know officer who are traumatized and scared of certain prisoners, we need help!!! A lot of things that happen in HMP is kept under cover……….
Is Andrew an islandman?
If its one thing. The man managing the prison will tell you the truth always.
Please send the violent prisoners (who managed the politicians)off to England. This will make the prison more manageable and also relief most of the underworld problems in the territory.
Please please Your Excellency Governor