Murdered prison officer got death threats

ONE MONTH ago, murdered prison officer Winston Sandy, 35, reported to senior officers at the Port-of-Spain Prison that he was receiving death threats from gang members who frequented the Nelson Street area. Sandy identified the persons who had been making the threats.

Sandy had mentioned the threats to his mother, Evelyn, and had expressed concerned for the safety of his family. Grieving relatives said Sandy did not identify to them the persons making the threats, but said he had reported the matter to his seniors. “We understand a prisoner ordered the execution of Sandy from inside the prison,” a relative of the dead man said yesterday. Claude Galston, President of the Prison Officers Association, expressed concern over the murder of his colleague and said a meeting is planned to discuss the threats to the lives of prison officers. He said the association will make a recommendation to Prisons Commissioner Leo Abraham for certain officers to be issued with guns. Galston believes if Sandy had a gun he would have been able to defend himself. He is calling on all prison officers to report any death threats to their seniors and the police station in their district.

Carlyle Babb, Public Relations Officer of the Association, said prison officers are threatened daily and it is part of the hazards of the job. He said Sandy joined the service in 1996, was an avid basketball player, produced children’s Carnival bands, and spent his time off volunteering at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. He was also a young leader at the Mt  Beulah Spiritual Baptist Church of Cocorite. His funeral will take place on Monday at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, followed by burial at the Western Cemetery. He will be buried in his uniform and Spiritual Baptist clothes, and the final rites will be carried out at the cemetery by members of the Mt Beulah Spiritual Baptist Church. An autopsy on Wednesday revealed that death was due to multiple gunshot wounds. Sandy was shot twice in the head, once in the leg, and twice on both hands. His murder was the 83rd for the year. Ag Sgt Rommel James is investigating.