The Prison is part of this community.
Those were the sentiments of Superintendent of Prisons Guy M. Hill as he addressed the Standing Finance Committee on the accomplishments and remaining challenges of the Prison Service in December.
Key issues highlighted by Hill that day were Staffing shortages and prolonged remand periods.
According to the Superintendent, the main issue facing the prison as of recent is staffing. To this end, he urged the Committee to give special consideration with how the budget is adjusted.
On the issue of prolonged remand, Hill was asked by Opposition Leader and Member for the Third District Honourable Julian Fraser what his role was in regard to accelerating trial for persons detained at the prison. In response, Hill explained that in his role as Superintendent, he is limited as there have been inmates awaiting trial inside the prison for up to 5 years – preceding his 2021 appointment. He added that questions have been extended to the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General’s Chambers in that regard.
Hill did say however, that throughout his time as Superintendent, he has noted an increase in the number of people being placed on remand awaiting trial.
While he noted that the early release of 28 inmates on recommendation of the Governor did help ease the financial burdens of the facility, he stressed that this was not a move that could be replicated frequently to address the issue.
Hill told the SFC that in the BVI’s Society, when inmates are released there are more criminal activities recorded in the country which results in more offenders being sent to the prison.
In 2022, a global study ranked the BVI as having the 7th highest rate of incarceration per capita.
And just weeks ago, a 2023 survey ranked the Territory at 8th for the highest prison population per capita.
With the Prison population averaging about 113-115 in 2022, Hill said that any case which has resulted in a person remaining in prison awaiting trial for two years should be looked at.
Fraser echoed these sentiments and stated that there must be something done in regards to the issue of inmates remaining on remand for extended periods.
To this end, Minister for Health and Social Development and Member for the Eighth District Honourable Marlon Penn concluded that it will be necessary to take legislative action to address issues surrounding the length of time persons remain on remand.
Despite the outstanding issues, 2022 was a progressive year for the Prison as a number of long awaited infrastructural work and other investment was completed.
This included the return of functionality of an electric gate at the prison which had been out of commission for 12 to 13 years, distribution of new beds to all inmates, procurement of uniforms for sentenced inmates and completion of the first fire inspection of the premises in 17 years to name a few.