US prisoner returned under transfer programme

A release from the US Embassy said that during their visit, Gallagher and Meyers, engaged with Trinidadian court administrators and the Commissioner of Prisons to ensure that procedures as laid out by the Prisoner Transfer Treaty were adhered to, for a smooth transfer process.

They held meetings with authorities from the Prison Service, and toured the Women’s Prison in Arouca where they were apprised of various projects for reintegration of released prisoners and the ongoing juvenile court project.

Gallagher also met with members of the Judiciary and other diplomatic missions to discuss current programmes and developments in the judicial system in TT.

The International Prisoner Transfer Programme began in 1977. It permits the transfer of prisoners from countries where they have been convicted back to their home country.

The Prison Transfer Agreement went into effect with TT in 1994.

The release said that the US has continuously engaged with law enforcement authorities in TT on this programme and other security issues through bilateral coordination and through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.

“Enhanced information sharing and collaboration between security officials has bolstered the close relationship our two countries share and promoted Trinidad and Tobago as a regional leader,” the release said.

Both countries have collaborated in the spirit of bilateralism to ensure that American violators of local laws can be returned to their country of origin as is the same for TT citizens convicted of crimes in the US, the release said.