Justice Minister Emmanuel George has dismissed claims by president of the Prisons Officers Association Ceron Richards that he was being “indifferent” regarding its call for better wages and improved working conditions.
He also noted there had been an 80 per cent increase in the number of gun licences issued to prisons officers while more than 3,000 bulletproof vests were delivered to the prisons and were being distributed to the officers.
At yesterday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair, George also warned that any industrial action by prisons officers would be indirect contradiction of the laws governing industrial relations.
At a press conference earlier this week Richards threatened that officers would be walking off the job amid concern for their safety.
He also demanded the resignations of George and Prisons Commissioner Conrad Barrow.
When asked what was the specific course of action that could be meted out to prisons officers George palmed off the question on the Labour Ministry.
“The prisons officers are like any other agency of the security forces, like the police they are governed by certain industrial practices...this decision have to do with government industrial action that they are pre-empted from taking,” he added.
Pressed further to explain exactly what he meant, George said Labour Minister Errol McLeod had given him some information regarding the issue and then advised that McLeod address the issue instead.
“I would rather that the Minister of Labour speak to the issue of action which could be taken because I don’t think I will be able to convey what he has said to me with the accuracy,” George added.
He said his ministry had already implemented a number of initiatives which dealt with proper safety of officers.
George, who assured that Government always looked after the welfare of prisons officers, said several measures were already put in place.
He said: “The matter of safe houses for prisons officers has been adequately addressed with an agreement having been put in place with the HDC and the commissioner of prisons.
“The ministry has interceded with the HDC for favourable consideration of application by prisons officers for housing accommodation under the Cabinet approved policy for ten per cent of the HDC housing unit to be allocated to members of the protective services.”
He said that was a request the association had made and the ministry was successful in its request.
Regarding the issue of bulletproof vests the minister said some 3,930 were delivered to the prisons and were being distributed to officers.
“As further evidence of the Government’s concern for the safety of prisons officers the Prisons Act, Chap 13:01, was amended, via legislation, passed in September, 2014 where the penality of the physical assault of the prisons officer has been increase from $1,000 to $10,000,” George said.
On the issue of firearm-users licence George said there had been an 80 per cent increase in the number of licences being issued to prisons officers.
The association, Richards said, had also made repeated calls to have cellphone jammers installed as those could assist in intercepting “hits” being called from behind prisons’ walls.
George said while he agreed that was a top priority the initial figure quoted exceeded the ministry’s budget.
He said the ministry was seeking additional funds for the project.