The Trinidad and Tobago Prison Officers' Association (TTPOA) has issued a stark warning over the worsening conditions in the nation's prisons, where severe overcrowding has led to inmates sleeping in shifts and a surge in violence.
A System at Breaking Point
With facilities operating at nearly 200% capacity, prison officers describe an increasingly volatile environment where resources are stretched to the limit. "We're sitting on a time bomb," said TTPOA president Ceron Richards, highlighting how inmates are forced to take turns sleeping due to lack of space.
Human Rights Concerns Mount
The crisis has raised serious human rights questions, with reports of:
- Inmates sleeping in corridors and common areas
- Increased gang-related violence
- Overworked staff struggling to maintain control
- Deteriorating sanitary conditions
Call for Immediate Government Action
The TTPOA has called on the government to:
- Accelerate prison construction projects
- Implement alternative sentencing for non-violent offenders
- Increase funding for rehabilitation programs
- Improve staff-to-inmate ratios
With the situation worsening daily, prison officers warn that without urgent intervention, the system risks complete collapse, potentially endangering both staff and inmates alike.
