00:00Sensitive information gathered by intelligence of the Trinidad and
00:03Tobago Police Service and later conveyed to Acting Prisons Commissioner Carlos
00:07Karaspi over the last 24 hours has prompted the Commissioner to initiate a
00:12lockdown at all the nation's prisons not allowing any visits by the public until
00:17further notice. This affects the Maximum Security Prison, Goulburn Grove Raymond
00:23de Yard Arruca, Port of Spain Prison and the Eastern Correctional and
00:27Rehabilitation Center in Santa Rosa. On Saturday a prison fight broke out at the
00:32Maximum Security Prison between rival gang members that left 39 year old
00:37Brent Batiste dead and two others injured at the facility. The Acting
00:42Prisons Commissioner told TV6 News in a brief interview that he was acting
00:45independently of what occurred on Saturday. Karaspi said in light of the
00:49information received they decided to take a precautionary approach pending a
00:53complete police investigation into the incident. He said once the investigation
00:58is complete things will return to normal but he could not give a time frame for
01:02such. He indicated that virtual court appearances were still permitted and
01:06those who needed to seek medical treatment at clinics would also be
01:10accommodated. Minister of National Security Marvin
01:13Gonzalez said while he was not aware of the planned lockdown he had been
01:16informed of certain actions to be taken to deal with the troubling matters
01:19within the prisons and said he supported the actions of the Trinidad and
01:23Tobago Police Service and the prison authorities whatever it might be.
01:26President of the Prison Officers Association Gerard Gordon who also spoke
01:31to TV6 News said he was aware of instructions this morning to lock down
01:34all prisons. Gordon said Acting Prisons Commissioner Karaspi was doing due
01:40diligence and said with serious things happening at the prisons it was
01:44important that certain things are put in place to ensure safe custody and
01:49maintaining public safety within the institution. He said the Prison Officers
01:54Association was in full support of the measures taken by Acting Commissioner
01:58Karaspi. Mark Basant, TV6 News.
Comments