Source: Real News Antigua- A report on corruption at His Majesty’s Prison has recommended that several persons – including a senior police officer – be
investigated for accusations made against them, one of which involves missing funds.
Based on several allegations of corruption and unfair treatment of inmates, the Prison Reform Committee began an investigation into His Majesty’s Prison in 2019 and the report was submitted in 2020.
Reports say that, contrary to prison rules, money was collected from sporting activities that were staged at the penal facility, with questions being asked about the use of these funds.
At least six people are identified in the report as members of the “White House” – a group of prison officers, male and female – some of whom are related – who appeared to control the penal facility and operate as they liked.
They are said to have been part of a scheme that involved sporting events to which members of the public were invited.
It is alleged that these were basketball matches between a team drawn from the inmates and teams outside the prison.
A former prison superintendent reportedly was an active participant and organizer of these matches.
According to the report, these matches attracted huge crowds, with an entrance fee being charged. Food and drink were also offered for sale, with the proceeds – including the entrance fees – to be “used ostensibly for the welfare of the inmates.”
However, during investigations into these charges of corruption, Committee members said that none of the persons interviewed could identify any improvements made to the welfare of the inmates as a result of the sporting events.
With this in mind, questions are being asked about the disbursement of the money earned from the sporting activities.
As a result, the committee has expressed the strong opinion that “these matters should be further investigated by the prison authorities in conjunction with the Ministry (of Justice and Legal Affairs), and if found true, the appropriate action be taken.”
Since the investigation was initiated and the report compiled and submitted four years ago, it has not been made public to date; and the minister responsible for the prison, Sir Steadroy “Cutie”
Benjamin has not moved to implement any of the committee’s recommendations.
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