The report on the prison's internal investigation of the January 17 jailbreak places strong emphasis on the presence of contraband; an officer's death at the hands of prisoners wielding a contraband item is one focus of the report.
Even more than the escape of four inmates, the presence of shanks and other contraband items in the supposedly secure correctional facility is noted as a cause for serious concern.
A "shank" ﾖ or "jooker" as some officers at Her Majestyﾒs Prison call them ﾖ is a hand-made, edged item used to stab; a sort of home-made knife. At least one of these "shanks" was used in the killing of Corporal Dion Bowles at 4:12 in the morning on January 17.
And in fact, one of the only definite conclusions drawn by the prisonﾒs five-person Court of Inquiry was that "certain staff members contribute to (the) vexing problem of contraband." The report added that it was the presence of contraband that caused the death of Cpl. Bowles.
The report highlights what it called a crisis at the prison.
"In recent times there has been a proliferation of cellular phones, drugs, and money found in the possession of prison inmates," the report said. "During the year 2005 a total of 85 cellular phones were found on prison inmates. They were all confiscated."
"A cellular phone is considered a most dangerous contraband in the hands of a prison inmate. There is no telling what he can plot with accomplices in the free world. The crisis at the prison is real and frightening."
The report makes a number of recommendations on staff, security and accommodations, some of which it would appear have already begun to be implemented.
Among the recommendations related to staff include a call for "all duty staff (to) be outfitted with shank-proof vests, non-lethal immobilizers, a tactical kit and panic button outfits."
Prison Superintendent Dr. Elliston Rahming told the Journal some weeks ago that the 40 shank-proof vests that had come in had not been issued to prison officers because they were determined to be unsuitable by prison officers themselves.
Dr. Rahming said at the time that there are shank-proof vests of various densities and various weights, and the officers who are going to wear them were of the view that, given the fact that maximum security is not air-conditioned, it would be more functional to have a lighter vest.
The report also recommends that officers making check rounds be issued hand-communications devices "in case of an emergency."
Cpl. Bowles had no walkie-talkie on his person when he was attacked in the Western Block.
Other recommendations that appear to be under implementation include the installation of walk-through scanners at the entrance of every prison, the introduction of new uniforms for inmates, and the installation of additional surveillance cameras at the prison.
The prisonﾒs Court of Inquiry also recommended that staff detailed to work in the Western Block be vetted for selection based on ability, loyalty and integrity.
Asked about that recommendation, a prison official speaking on condition of anonymity said that recommendation was not realistic. The official said that corruption among some prison officers was "already entrenched."
"It is hoped that Cpl. Bowlesﾒ death was not in vain, but by Godﾒs grace out of this evil would come the necessary good and enhancement to the Prison Service so long overdue," are the reportﾒs final words.
By: Quincy Parker, The Bahama Journal
