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.
###Communications Department
Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service