833 cellphones found in prison in 2024

Cell phones being used by prison inmates for “nefarious activities on the outside” have become “worrying” to prison authorities.

At the closing of the Criminal Assizes, on Friday, December 20, 2024 at the High Court where Justice Rickie Burnett presides, Superintendent of Prisons, Dwayne Bailey presented the usual status report on the two penal institutions in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). He raised several issues that authorities are currently facing in the prisons.

Superintendent Bailey told the court that a total of 833 cellphones were confiscated at the two locations of the penal institution in 2024, more than 700 of which were seized at the Belle Isle Correctional Facility.

He said prison inmates do not have access to the internet. However, family members aid inmates with gaining access to data and credit for these phones and then later complain when punishments are meted out to the inmates.

Bailey also disclosed that there have been breaches at the prison fence.

He reported to the court that the authorities are aiming to stop the influx of cellphones into the prison, and that while no large-scale study has been conducted to determine the use of these phones, it has been discovered that some of them are being used to watch pornographic content, movies, and making phone calls.

He said some inmates use their cellphones to engage in “nefarious activities on the outside,” which is an issue that Bailey described to be “worrying” and “concerning.”

He, however noted that if the authorities were to install a cellphone signal jammer to address this problem, it may affect a cellphone tower that is located in the area, and create greater issues.

Bailey told the court that while inmates do not have access to the internet in prison, there is a phone system which they can use to call any 10 people, once approved by the authorities.

However, inmates are not allowed to contact anyone outside of the 10 approved numbers. He also said there is nothing preventing inmates from contacting their family members, if they so desire.

Family members are also permitted to take meals for inmates in prison. Commenting on their diet, Bailey told the court it included beef, pork and fish for the past Christmas season.

When lawyer, Grant Connell asked Bailey if the inmates “go back to bread in January,” the Superintendent said the inmates will be fed such items as rice, vegetables, chicken, and ground provision.

There also special diets for inmates with such health problems as diabetes and hypertension. These diets have been approved by the Food and Nutrition Department in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment.

To combat prison breaches and contraband, Bailey told the court that officers are being trained to use high power rifles and drones.

However, he said that officers taking sick leave continue to be a worrying issue for authorities.

There are currently 416 inmates in prison, 410 of which are male, and six are female.

Around this time last year, a total of 530 cellphones were confiscated from the then total prison population of 399 inmates.