In our continuous efforts to manage COVID-19 within the nation’s prisons, the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service has acquired, via Legal Notice no. 331, ORDER made by the Minister under section 5(1) of the Prisons Act, (Prisons Order, 2020), a district prison for the treatment of our charges who have tested positive for the virus. It will cater for charges whose medical conditions are classified as being mild, asymptomatic and stable, while those with more serious conditions will be treated at a public facility.
The Claxton Bay Correctional Facility, situated on Trincity Road, Forres Park in the ward of Point-a Pierre, is specially designed and outfitted for patients’ enhanced medical treatment, whilst maintaining public safety and security. The facility can accommodate a maximum of twenty-three (23) patients and treatment will be based on stipulated guidelines set out by the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health. Dr. Maryam Richards, Principal Medical Officer, Institutions, made a complete tour and inspection of the facility and found it to be suited and in readiness for its purpose. Personnel from the Ministry of Health will offer additional support in the treatment of charges when necessary.
The facility was opened with a short unveiling ceremony on Wednesday October 07, 2020, by Commissioner of Prisons (Ag.), Mr. Dennis Pulchan, and is expected to have its first intake of thirteen (13) patients. Commissioner Pulchan expressed his gratitude to Minister of National Security, the Honourable Mr. Stuart Young, personnel from the Ministry of Health and most of all his dedicated staff who worked tirelessly to ensure all standards were met.
Over the past two weeks, staff selected to work at the facility have been engaged in training sessions specific to working in a COVID-19 environment. Some of the areas they were exposed to included, but were not limited to standard operation procedures for the facility, safety procedures, record management, identification of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and their usage, donning and duffing of PPE, bio-hazardous waste disposal, health related emergencies and emergency plans and procedures to mention a few.
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