This country has a new Prisons Commissioner who was appointed on Monday. Conrad Barrow replaced Martin Martinez, who held the post from October 2011. A statement from the Ministry of Justice said Barrow brings more than 38 years’ experience to his new role, having previously served as Deputy Commissioner of Prisons and in several other senior management positions in various sections of the nation’s prisons.
Barrow also holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of London as well as a Masters of Studies from Cambridge University. He is a member of the International Correction and Prison Association (ICPA) for the Advancement of Professional Corrections and has received training in corrections and management of penal systems.
“This is a heavy responsibility and it is not going to be easy but you have our full support to succeed,” said Justice Minister Emmanuel George in his congratulatory remarks to the new commissioner at the Ministry’s Headquarters at the Port-of-Spain International Waterfront Complex on Monday. Barrow said one of his priorities was to implement the recommendations of the Ramesh Deosaran Committee, which was appointed last November to investigate the inhumane conditions at the nation’s prisons, the statement said.
Among the recommendations of the committee were the construction of a new remand facility, improvements to the current facility in the interim, installment of cellphone jammers, provision of stab-proof vests and safe houses for prisons officers and families under threat.