Managing Covid-19 in the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service

Now that Covid-19 is behind prison walls, all measures implemented have been reinforced with the critical focus on management and containment. We continue to be fully engaged with health and safety professionals who play an important role in our decision making process.

Strong emphasis has been placed on members of staff to not report for duty as they are in contact with members of the external community. They are advised to inform their immediate supervisor via phone if they are feeling unwell or have been in contact with someone with the virus, and seek medical attention at nearest health facility.

As we seek to assure members of the public that all is being done within our power to contain the spread, we highlight some of additional measures undertaken. Relevant updates would be published as deemed necessary.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- Prison Canteen Access

Due to the situation with COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and the subsequent suspension of visits to prison establishments, the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service has acknowledged the concern of relatives for their loved ones as it relates to the purchase of personal and food items.

We wish to advise that whilst visits to the prisons are suspended, we have revisited the prison commissary system. Relatives can now visit any branch of Republic Bank Limited and deposit funds at a maximum value of twelve hundred dollars ($1,200.00) monthly,for their loved ones by adhering to the guidelines as stipulated below. Inmates however would only be allowed purchases of up to three-hundred dollars ($300.00) weekly.

 Visit any branch of Republic Bank Limited

 Request to do a Credit Memo to the Account#180266840001

 Ensure to provide the inmate’s name and that it is written on the receipt

 Collect receipt and place in the station-specific post boxes located at the visit area outside Golden Grove Prison

We do wish to remind members of the public to continue to observe the precautionary measures and advisories that have been implemented in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus, if the need arises to conduct this business transaction. The Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service remains committed to providing effective and efficient management practices during this unprecedented time as we continue to facilitate opportunities whist maintaining public safety and security.

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Communications Department

Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Visits to prisons suspended to protect clients

The Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service wishes to advise that with immediate effect, visits to ALL prison establishments have been suspended until further notice, in an effort to ensure that the prison environment remains as safe as possible from a health perspective.

Commissioner of Prisons (Ag), Mr. Dennis Pulchan has informed that this action came as a direct result of the medical advice to take certain measures to protect the prison environment from any possible contamination and in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

Commissioner Pulchan said that families were allowed to visit the prisons on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 March, 2020, to purchase items for their loved ones. This proactive measure was facilitated to allow the clients to obtain their items before suspending contact to protect them.

He wishes to advise members of the public that all feasible measures have been implemented within the nation's prisons, in an effort to lower the risk of both staff and inmates from contamination. Some of these measures include thermal scans of all persons entering the prisons, additional sinks installed at strategic points within the prisons, sanitization of buildings and signage relative to the virus, its symptoms and precautionary measures, posted in all prisons, to name a few.

Additionally, the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service will be implementing video conferencing via Skype for clients to communicate with their families by prearranged appointments. Families are reminded that the Prison Service’s telephone landline system remains in operation for clients to speak with their families.

The Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service continues to monitor the development of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation, and will give a subsequent update on the commencement of the video conferencing and eventually, the re-establishment of visits.

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Communications Department

Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service