The escape of a prisoner serving a life sentence for murder at the Carerra island prison has reinforced the need to close down the facility. So said Justice Minister Christlyn Moore while fielding questions from the media at a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing between the Canadian Correctional Service and the T&T Prison Service at her ministry, Waterfront Complex, Port-of-Spain.
Inmate John Pierre, 33, was reported missing around 5 am on Sunday from the facility. Prisons authorities said he escaped by removing a steel grill. He was convicted for murdering a taxi driver.
Prisons Commissioner Martin Martinez has asked for a preliminary report on the escape and has launched an investigation as to how the prisoner was able to remove the grill from his cell undetected.
Moore said: “This emphasises the challenges with Carerra. Carerra being surrounded with water then we are dealing with an escape in multiple directions over water and perhaps by different means. “So it emphasises the risk that Carerra poses as a penal institution and it really supports the decision that has been made by Government to close the facility.” Earlier this year, Government announced plans to close down the island prison and relocate inmates to more secure prisons on the mainland.