Prisons' Dean Response

Published 7th September, 2:32pm

Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Dr Bill Rattray, today (Friday, 7 September) praised prison service staff for their response to Hurricane Dean.

However, he did not leave it at that, but went on to praise the prisoners.

"The staff were magnificent," Dr Rattray said. "They left their own families and friends and reported for duty to ensure the security and safety of the prisoners."

Dr Rattray said he felt honoured to be part of a service whose commitment to their public duty in the face of a potentially impending catastrophe was "impressive, to say the least."

He also praised the way the prisoners conducted themselves. "I would not like to be locked into a confined space as a hurricane approached, not knowing what was going to happen to my family," he said.

"Yet the prisoners accepted staff assurances, and the prison was locked down at the normal time with no incident. The prisoners maintained their discipline with a mature acceptance of their circumstances, and they should be thanked for that."

Dr Rattray went on to say, "In my career I have known circumstances where that level of stress can have a very different outcome. I put it down to the quality of staff/prisoner relationships here, and the prisoners' belief that staff would remain at their posts and rescue them if worst came to the worst."

For further information contact: Ariana Rahamut