SEARCHES of colleagues, surveillance and intelligence gathering will continue to be used to crack down on rogue prison officers as the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service says it will get ahead of the problem by tackling it “head on”.This was the promise by Acting Prisons Commissioner Elvin Scanterbury yesterday.It followed the arrest of a woman prison officer who was caught with prohibited items while attempting to enter the Women’s Prison at Golden Grove, Arouca, on Monday.
SHOWCASING Prisoners’ Talent: Minister of Justice Devesh Maharaj, left, and Archbishop Jason Gordon view artwork from inmates on display following the launch of the Universe Speaks art show presented by the Raja Yoga Prison Ministry, the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service and the Art Fusion School at the Long Circular Mall, St James, yesterday. The show runs from August 24-29 and artworks are for sale. —Photo: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK
Scanterbury spoke to the Express at the Universe Speaks art show, hosted by the Raja Yoga Prison Ministry at the atrium of Long Circular Mall, St James.The exhibition, which features artwork created by inmates, continues until Saturday. The pieces are available for purchase.Asked what measures were being taken to identify and remove corrupt elements from the Prison Service, Scanterbury said intelligence gathering and surveillance would continue.“We will continue to do our intelligence gathering, our surveillance, depending on support from our other partners in the criminal justice system,” he said.“This is so that we can address this situation head on, as it is really contrary to what we are trying to do in terms of rehabilitation,” he added.Scanterbury said the Service would continue to address such incidents as quickly as possible.A Prison Officer 1 was arrested after prohibited items were found in her possession while she attempted to enter the Women’s Prison at Golden Grove, Arouca on Monday, police said in a release yesterday.Police said the officer, who is on vacation leave until March 2027, was searched by senior prison officials at around 8.45 a.m.The search uncovered 458 packets of cigarettes, 189 grammes of marijuana, two headsets, eight AAA batteries and 12 effervescent tablets.The DCP Operations Team was contacted and the officer was arrested.The latest incident comes amid heightened efforts to prevent the smuggling of contraband into prisons.Over the past several weeks, several prohibited items have been intercepted.One man was also observed on camera attempting to throw contraband over the walls of the Port of Spain Prison.During a recent visit to the Prison Training College to assess the progress of the latest batch of recruits, Scanterbury urged them to “remain focused, disciplined and committed to the values and standards expected of officers of the Prison Service”.In a statement issued by the Prison Service yesterday, he also emphasised the importance of professionalism, integrity, teamwork and dedication to duty to the recruits.“The Service remains committed to ensuring that its recruits are properly trained and equipped with the knowledge, skills and discipline necessary to effectively carry out their duties and contribute positively to the safety, security and rehabilitation objectives of the Service,” the statement said.Asked yesterday about the absence of Commissioner of Prisons Carlos Corraspe, who, along with another senior prison officer, was sent on leave, Scanterbury said he was acting in Corraspe’s absence.“I’ll be acting in the absence of Mr Carlos Corraspe while he is on vacation leave,” he said.Asked whether Corraspe would resume his duties upon his return, Scanterbury replied: “In all intents and purposes, he is on vacation leave.”
