Different ‘airing’ time for gangsters

Speaking with Newsday yesterday, a prisons source said that most of the gang members are from Nelson and Duncan Streets in Port-of-Spain and are being kept in ground-floor cells at a ‘high- security’ cell block known as ‘Guantanamo Bay’.

The source said each cell, which is furnished with a double-decker bed and separate mattresses on the floor, are currently being occupied by not less than three inmates. Among the detainees are a major gang leader from the Port-of-Spain area and two ‘ranking’ members from the Laventille area.

The source said that while the “normal” airing time for the prisoner body is from 11 am to 12 noon daily, the persons from the Nelson Street gang are given airings from 12 noon. However, those from Duncan Street, who were brought into the prison on Friday night have not been given airing since.

Newsday was told that Prisons Commissioner John Rougier visited the prison on Friday night to “get a first-hand view” as to the operations and to see for himself how the prisoners were being kept and security measures in place.

Newsday was told that there have since been no reports of fights, quarrels or threats among gang members from rival gangs.

It was reported that about 80 persons were rounded up by the police and army since the state of emergency was declared. Efforts to reach Rougier yesterday for comment proved futile.