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| Ivan leaves prisons with $94M bill |
| By The Jamaica Observer |
| Published: 09/20/2004 |
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The Correctional Services department in Jamaica is in desperate need of $94 million to undertake immediate emergency restoration work at the island's antiquated prisons which were damaged by Hurricane Ivan, to avert what could become a security crisis. "It is of paramount importance that the penal institutions which have been destroyed by the effects of the hurricane be repaired immediately, because these are high security facilities containing high-risk inmates who must be securely kept," said Major Richard Reese, Commissioner of Corrections. The hardest-hit prisons are Tower Street in downtown Kingston, the St. Catherine District and Fort Augusta prisons in St. Catherine which lost roofs, windows, doors, sewage system, electrical system and sentry boxes - with damage estimated at $44 million. The South Camp Road Rehabilitation Centre in Kingston, Richmond Farm in St. Mary and Tamarind Farm prisons had an additional $14.1 million of damage. And four juvenile centres at Stony Hill, St Andrew, Hill Top in Hanover, Armadale, St Ann and Rio Cobre in Spanish Town, St Catherine, will need $22.1- million to recover from Ivan's wrath, while the staff quarters and sports club at Tower Street also suffered $13 million of damage. Reese said the combined bill of under $94 million was based on preliminary assessments done by engineers, but he expected that more detailed checks could put the damage estimate at well over $125 million. The female prison at Fort Augusta, with a population of 255 prisoners, including six infants, was completely destroyed but Reese said the inmates were evacuated two days before the hurricane as the prison was already in a dilapidated condition and had not been expected to survive the storm. "Emergency repair work has already began as the Ministry of Finance has given a commitment for us to go full speed ahead with emergency repairs which is being done from salvage materials," said the prison boss. Half the prison's poultry farm was also swept away by flood waters. Reese estimates that loss at $1.7 million. The prison commissioner has given high commendations to his staff who he said did an excellent job during the hurricane. Staff on leave were recalled, and training was suspended so there were excess staff members working . "It paid off because we had no escapes or injuries over the period," Reese said. |
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