BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A popular song rang through the court yesterday (Mar. 30) when Chief Officer at Her Majesty’s Prison Alvin Vasquez reminded of overcrowding at the Federation’s lone correctional facility.
As is the custom, a senior member of the institution would present to the court, what is known as the “jail delivery” on the day of the close of the assizes.
Vasquez’s address to the court revealed that as at 8:00 Tuesday morning, the prison population stood at 251 males and two females; 216 males at the Basseterre branch and the remaining males at Russell’s Rest or the Prison Farm in Nevis. The two females reside at the Basseterre branch.
Speaking specifically to the distribution of the inmates, the Chief Officer explained that 133 of the male inmates were convicted at the High Court level, 56 at the Magistrate’s Court, 28 were waiting to be tried at the Magistrate’s Court, 20 awaiting trial at the High Court level, one awaiting the hearing of his appeal and four are debtors.
Five of the remaining nine reside at Her Majesty’s Prison at the “Court’s Pleasure” while the other four are on death row. The two women, Vazquez informed, reside at Her Majesty’s Prison having been convicted at the High Court.
Responding to questions from Resident Judge His Lordship Justice Francis Belle, Vasquez explained that since the reading of the last jail delivery, the prison population has increased by nine with approximately 17 inmates housed in one cell.
His Lordship noted that he understands the strain that is placed on the prison and its staff because of this, coupled with the fact that “the court doesn’t take a great deal of pleasure in sending people to jail”, to which he made a conscientious decision to utilise alternative sentencing in punishing persons for their transgressions. While this may have provided some ease for prison staff, His Lordship noted that the strain was transferred to the social services department.
His Lordship pointed out that whether the pendulum of the administration of justice swings to the left or right, someone is made to bear the strain.
