Governor His Excellency John Rankin has debunked the recent claims that the security of His Majesty’s Prison at Balsam Ghut was compromised on Thursday, September 21, during an alleged lockdown of the facility.
Following reports that the prison was under lockdown, it was reported that a prisoner was almost let out of the facility.
During a press conference on Friday, September 30, Governor Rankin confirmed that there was indeed a security incident at the prison on the aforementioned date, but said the reports surrounding a prisoner being “let out” was false information.
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force in a media release on Friday, September 22, revealed that three unidentified males evaded police presence after discarding a bag containing three illegal firearms on the night of the said Thursday.
The men were said to be in close proximity to the prison during the police operation.
While the governor did not confirm in detail what led to the need for enhancing security at the prison on the said date, he did state that staff of the prison were informed of “a security incident” by the RVIPF.
Subsequent reports have therefore linked the fleeing of the three unidentified males who discarded the firearms to the security incident at the prison.