Tag: Steven Barrett
Opposition MLAs vote ‘no’ to prison cash
(CNS): A lack of information about where government is spending more than $20 million at the prison, especially when it comes to rehabilitation, led to MLAs on the opposition benches voting against additional appropriations for HMCI Prison Service. But the prison director has said that there is a well established rehabilitation programme to ensure that, […]
Prison director quashes rumour of rioting
(CNS): Rumours circulating on social media that prisoners at HMP Northward are rioting are false, Prison Director Steve Barret has stated. HM Cayman Islands Prison Service reported on Monday, 18 May, that two inmates were positive for COVID-19, which Barret said in a statement on Thursday had cause some anxiety among staff and inmates, but […]
Inmates on remand positive for COVID-19
(CNS): Two prisoners at HMP Northward, who were both on remand waiting for trial, have tested positive for coronavirus, HM Cayman Islands Prison Service (HMCIPS) has confirmed. Both men are asymptomatic and are isolated alone, the prison service revealed in a release Tuesday morning. The two inmates have been held in the remand block of […]
Prisoners released to ease jail crowding
(CNS): The prison director has released on licence fourteen local prisoners who were approaching the end of their sentence or deemed to be low risk to reduce prison overcrowding and control the potential spread of the coronavirus at HMP Northward. Another four prisoners from overseas have also been released and deported on the flights to […]
Crammed prison presents virus challenge
(CNS) UPDATED: Given the number of inmates at HMP Northward, the Cayman Islands Prison Service could be facing a challenging time if the corona virus gets a hold at the men’s jail. On Wednesday morning there were a 199 inmates crammed into the overcrowded facility, where social distancing would be all but impossible. However, Prison […]
Consultants invited to make case for new prison
(CNS): It’s no secret that Cayman’s prison facilities are not only horribly overcrowded but also unfit for human habitation, with conditions that Prison Director Steve Barrett has called “simply unacceptable”. But after many years of neglect, funding has now been secured to begin the redevelopment process of the current estate. An invitation to tender has […]
Prison and training centre partner on jobs programme
(CNS Local Life): Ahead of its official launch expected later this summer, vocational centre Inspire Cayman Training (ICT) is partnering with HMP Northward to set up a programme to teach inmates skills that will enable them to enter the workforce after they leave prison. Starting Monday, 8 July, ICT owner Michael Myles will be training […]
Prison rehab pilot project expanding
(CNS): A third prisoner from HMP Northward who is coming to the end of his sentence has joined the Department of Environmental Health’s garbage collection team as part of a joint project of the DEH and HM Cayman Islands Prison Service to place inmates in jobs. Last year the two agencies signed a memorandum of understanding […]
Board created to watch over prison standards
(CNS): With the help of experts from the UK, HM Cayman Islands Prison Service has introduced a new Independent Monitoring Board to oversee conditions and treatment of inmates held in custody at Cayman’s various facilities. Tasked with ensuring that prisoners and detainees are treated humanely and fairly with access to sufficient purposeful activity, the board […]
Prisoner hospitalised after setting cell on fire
(CNS): An inmate from HMP Northward was taken to hospital on Thursday, suffering from smoke inhalation after setting a small fire in his cell, which he was occupying alone. The fire was quickly extinguished by prison staff but emergency services were called, according a release from government. Prison Director Steve Barrett commended his staff for their quick […]
Prisoners on road to rehabilitation with the NRA
(CNS): HMP Northward and the National Roads Authority have entered into a partnership to help clean up Grand Cayman using prisoners to clear litter along the roadside to make the authority’s work cutting back trees and overgrowth more efficient. The prison work crews have all volunteered for the hard and hot but necessary work helping […]
