Protect officers

He took Government to task after an off-duty prison officer was shot in both legs at his businessplace in Princes Town. Richards said that despite numerous pleas to put things in place by way of legislature to protect prison officers and by extension officers of the protective services, no action has been taken .

It was reported that Naresh Toll was shot in both legs at about 9 pm on Monday, after gunmen stormed his business place in Princes Town. After the attack Toll was rushed to hospital where he is said to be warded in a stable condition. While a motive behind the shooting is not yet known and detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting incident, Richards told Newsday that the plight for protection of prison officers was one which his organisation has been highlighting for years .

“We have always advocated for the protection of prison officers and by extension officers of the protective services,” said Richards .

“This has been our single greatest plight, but there has been no response from any government on this issue. Prime Minister Keith Rowley recently talked about redoubling efforts to ensure safety of officers inside and outside the prison, but to date we have not experienced any effect of the government increasing their efforts .

“Attorney General Faris Al Rawi remains unsupportive, because he is not treating with the recommendations which were made .

It would seem that my maths was right when the honourable Prime Minister said what he said, because zero multiplied by two remains as zero.” Richards said prison officers have made several reports and complaints of being threatened in and out of the prison, being followed to their homes by unknown persons and having homes ‘staked out’ .

In an interview yesterday, on a radio station, Commissioner of Prisons Sterling Stewart said the issue of security for prison officers is a serious one because of their liine of work. “This (being a prison officer) is a high-risk job and is not for the faint of heart .

But despite all that we have been through, we continue to operate in a professional manner,” Stewart said .

Toll was not the only prison officer to be attacked by gunmen this year. In February, Prison Officer Fitzalbert Victor was fatally shot outside his home at Pritzgar Lands in Laventille. Investigations revealed that he was targeted as a direct consequence of his official duties. Contacted for comment yesterday, Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon said he was out of the country on state affairs and would reserve comment until he returns home and is fully briefed .