Prisons officers attacked by inmate

"Taken from our C R I M E section.

TWO prisons officers were injured during a fracas at the Remand Section of Golden Grove Prison on Thursday night. Reports revealed that around 6.30 pm, an inmate attacked prison officers Calvin Ali and Victor Prescott. Other prisons officers intervened and the prisoner was subdued.

Both officers were treated at hospital and Prescott remains warded at Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Ali suffered three stab wounds to his head, and fractured nose bridge. Deputy Prisons Commissioner Herman Rougier visited Prescott at hospital yesterday and indicated he was resting comfortably.

Rougier advised both officers will receive counselling and psychological support from the Prisons Psychologist Cheyvonne Cyrus-Williams. The reason for the altercation remained unclear yesterday.

Prisons Commissioner John Rougier expressed relief that both officers were resting in stable condition and gave the assurance that appropriate action will be taken as soon as a report is received from the police.

General Secretary of the Prisons Officers’ Association (2nd Division) Burton Hill, said the association has been informing the administration of measures to deal with indiscipline but nothing was done.

“We feel the administration is turning a blind eye and not addressing the situation,” Hill said.

He added that the association asked all members to exercise extra caution on the job until measures are put in place to better protect the prisons officers. Hill also chastised the prison administration for not dealing with the severe manpower shortage in the prisons.