00:00 A fracker between prisoners and prison officers at the Port of Spain jail that in April left
00:06 inmates hospitalized with multiple injuries and one of them fatally wounded.
00:13 Prison officers were also taken to hospital with injuries.
00:16 Days after the incident, Prisons Commissioner Diup Basad Ramutta apologized to inmates for
00:23 what transpired and he came under heavy criticism by the Prisons Officers Association for that
00:29 response.
00:30 Today, he explains his side of the story, saying perhaps his methodology is too advanced
00:36 for some people.
00:38 He questioned how can a person be criticized for using words like apology.
00:43 I didn't apologize for the fact that I took leave.
00:47 I apologized for the last 35 years that I have been in the service.
00:52 I just incidentally, I think I was very close to my comments and my comments were made on
00:59 a holy Tuesday, right after the Archbishop washed my feet, kissed my feet and we did
01:04 prayers and so on.
01:05 So I likewise, as the head of the service, did what I thought was appropriate.
01:10 Diup Basad Ramutta suggests that those who doubt his tactical approach should reconsider
01:15 their perspective.
01:16 All those who criticize him, my methodology, in reaching out to people, touching their
01:24 emotions and looking to get a better outcome, they should think twice in criticizing my
01:30 methodology.
01:31 It's working.
01:32 Officers can walk in streets, can walk in a mall, can hold their family hand.
01:37 Maybe it's not having to be careful, look over their shoulder at somebody looking for
01:41 revenge.
01:42 In terms of trafficking of contraband within the prisons, Ramutta tells us it's not exclusive
01:49 to Trinidad and Tobago.
01:51 It's a problem worldwide.
01:52 However, he points out that during his time at the helm, there was a marked reduction.
01:58 He says statistics will show it's been significantly less under his tenure as commissioner, adding
02:06 that prior to his tenure, when they searched prisons, they found 100 or 200 phones.
02:12 Now they find 10 or 20 phones at most.
02:16 On the issue of dealing with RUV officers, he admitted there are some challenges.
02:21 Yes, I agree too that we have crooked officers.
02:25 And the only reason we know that they are crooked officers is because we are working.
02:29 We are working with the police to identify them and arrest them.
02:32 We are not getting much assistance from after being arrested.
02:38 I have spoken to that.
02:40 We often get bail.
02:41 We always get bail the same day.
02:44 I don't get them to come in the prison and spend a night in the same cell as the beginning
02:47 of the contraband in Medford.
02:50 And they are assisted by persons, by crafty lawyers.
02:53 We get their freedom and they laugh at us.
02:57 And we put hundreds and hundreds of money in apprehending them, as Mr. Douglas said.
03:03 Nicole M Romney, TV6 News.
03:06 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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