Hon George Lightbourne
Member of Parliament
Grand Turk North
April 29, 2017
Dear Editor,
Cabinet agrees to relocate some prisoners to the Green Door Facility, North Ridge.
It has come to my attention that cabinet has agreed to relocate prisoners to the Green Door Facility at North Ridge. I believe that relocating prisoners to the green door is a grave mistake and an indication that His Excellency, Governor Freeman was ill advised. As Member of Parliament for Grand Turk North I am calling on you Governor to please reconsider this decision for several reasons. These are:
* The Ridge is the most upscale area in Grand Turk and the introduction of a prison facility will devalue the properties there.
* An attempt was previously made to put a juvenile center on the Ridge and the residents of the ridge protested by presenting me (when I was minister) with a petition containing over one 100 signatures; therefore I abandoned the idea because I respected the views and wishes of the people.
* There was no consultation carried out by this new government in order to hear the views of the residents on the relocation of inmates to a facility on the ridge; therefore this new government is going against the wishes of the people.
* The Green Door is located on the same property as the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College and from this decision it is apparent that no serious consideration was given to the impact and effect of the college sharing the same property as a jail. In light of recent events of inmates escaping, causing fire and inmates sexually molesting prison officers, I am even more convinced that this idea should be abandoned. If inmates are molesting prison officers what do you think they will do to college students and lecturers if given the opportunity? The safety of those persons who attend and work at the institution must be taken seriously. Our students and lecturers at the college should not be inconvenienced, distracted, or fearful while attending classes.
* The excuse that this facility will be used to accommodate low risk inmates is inexcusable; particularly, considering the fact that these inmates are already serving time in general population alongside hardened criminals and may have already become radicalized.
* The Green Door is also located next the Lighthouse, which is one of our historical sites and home to tourist attractions often frequented by cruise ship passengers. Has any consideration been given to the impact of such a move on our tourism product at the Lighthouse?
Mr. President of cabinet I am calling on you to do the right thing by recalling this cabinet paper and for God’s sake allow wisdom to prevail by abandoning this decision and defer this paper until a suitable location is found.
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