Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
MORE THAN 200 female inmates and two infants at the Fort Augusta Adult Correctional Centre have been transferred to the Horizon Adult Remand Centre on Spanish Town Road, according to Major Richard Reese, head of the Correctional Services.
Major Reese told The Gleaner/Power 106 News that the inmates were removed as a precautionary measure as Hurricane Dennis approached the island last week.
"Fort Augusta has suffered flooding and damage to its electrical distribution system, emergency work is being carried out as we speak and by the middle of next week (this week) we hope to return those inmates to Fort Augusta and resume operations there," Major Reese said.
He said that staff at Fort Augusta were also relocated to the Horizon Adult Remand Centre to beef up security there.
He also disclosed that damage was done to the Richmond Farm Adult Correctional Centre in St. Mary.
"Richmond had power distribution problems and up to yesterday (Saturday) they were still on standby generator systems," he said.
Major Reese said that an assessment of the correctional services was currently under way. Once completed, a report will be submitted to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security.
