Drug trade active behind prison walls

Speaking at the launch of the "Remedial Interventions for Trafficking and Drug use in the Prison Service," Rougier told Newsday that allegations are being investigated that inmates are also abused by officers.

Four officers are currently in court facing several unrelated charges.

Rougier also admitted that there is a drug and substance abuse problem behind the prison walls.

"There is a faction, a small one that trades in illicit drugs within the prisons, and both officers and inmates are culprits of such activities," he said.

He said the activity severely jeopardises the security and the lives of officers and inmates.

"So far we have been unable to eradicate the problem entirely," Rougier concluded.

The workshop will commence on Friday September 16, and the general workshop in October.

The workshop will also address issues in the prisons, and working groups will deal with consequences of drug use, and family life issues and management.

Officers as well as inmates will receive information on skills and anger management issues.

Junior Minister of National Security, Fitzgerald Hinds, confirmed that there will be no more false pretenses and transparency with drug trafficking and usage in the prisons.

"There is a small faction that trade illicit drugs. We need to make our prisons better and reform because these prisoners will return to the streets one day," he disclosed.

Hinds said that drug use has killed prison officers and he is hopeful that educating inmates can offer them the incentive to stop.

Discussing the series of bomb blasts that occurred within the past few months, Hinds said that the police are vigorously continuing investigations.

He continued, "We have 7,000 plus officers and new crimes are occurring, and some by foreigners."

The minister added that there will always be recruitment of police officers in the country because of the shortage.

"The training college costs $2 million and we are now rehabilitating it," he said.

When Hinds was asked about the Eye in the Sky, he said, "no one said it was not in use, and who says that no one was there?"

When the bomb exploded in a dumpster behind KFC Independence Square, the Eye in the Sky was notably unmanned by police officers.

He also explained that the $26 million blimp was already in full usage.

Also at the launch, Vision on Mission president Wayne Chance gave thanks to the Prison Service for the new workshop.