BERMUDA'S COMMISSIONER of Corrections, Jamaican John Prescod, will be removed from his post as of July 31, Public Safety Minister Randy Horton announced on Saturday.
Assistant Commissioners Marvin Trott and Randall Woolridge will also be removed from their posts, The Royal Gazette newspaper reported. The Bermuda government is bringing former Assistant Commissioner Hubert Dean out of retirement to fill the post of acting commissioner of corrections for six months, until a permanent replacement can be found for Mr. Prescod.
FINAL REPORT
A Review Panel presented its final report into operations at the troubled Department of Corrections seven weeks ago. The report recommended the early termination of Lieutenant Colonel Prescod's three-year contract, a move prison officers have been demanding, citing the commissioner's 'autocratic' management style. Lieutenant Colonel Prescod's original contract was not up until May 2005.
The report also recommended the removal of Mr. Trott and Mr. Woolridge, a recommendation which was met with concern from the prison officers as it left all the top posts at the department vacant.
Speaking on the floor of the House of Assembly on Saturday, Mr. Horton said he passed the report on to his permanent secretary, Robert Horton, who had the responsibility of deciding which of the recommendations to implement.
HOPE FOR BETTER RELATIONS
"It is to be regretted that circumstances mitigated against (Lt. Col. Prescod's) ability to fulfil all the terms of his contract and to realise even his own expectations," Mr. Horton said. "I am also confident that the difficult relationship that has existed in recent times between the senior administration of the Department of Corrections and the Prison Officers' Association will improve dramatically."
Mr. Horton expressed his gratitude to Lt. Col. Prescod for his service. He said, "We extend to him best wishes for the future."
Bermuda Prison Officers' Association head Michael Tuzo declined to comment on the matter, saying he will hold a press conference this week.
In 1997, Lieutenant Colonel Prescod, then Jamaica's Commissioner of Corrections, sparked protest in the prison system locally when he suggested that condoms be distributed in the prisons as a means of stopping the spread of HIV. A 27-month-old impasse between the Government and prison warders started in January 2000, when roughly 800 officers staged a sick-out to protest against the Government's decision to re-appoint the commissioner.
