$5M prison centre for Golden Grove

The sod-turning ceremony for the construction took place on Monday at Golden Grove, and was attended by Junior National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds, Prisons Commissioner John Rougier and other prison officers.

The building is expected to be completed in December 2006.

There will be a conference room, meeting room, kitchenette and ten self-contained rooms which will be used to accommodate guests from foreign penal institutions in the structure.

Senior Supt of Prisons responsible for programmes, Joseph Narsiah, said the centre is long overdue, and he believes it will facilitate improved communications and relationship building.

He expects "greater synergy" between senior officers since they will have "a place to congregate, a place to call home."

Hinds, who was invited to turn the sod, commended the construction team on its versatility.

The team of prison officers led by Anthony Pierre said the team was responsible for designing and drafting the plan.