Minister of National Security Marvin Dames.
By MORGAN ADDERLEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
madderley@tribunemedia.net
National Security Minister Marvin Dames said corrupt prison officers will be exposed, prosecuted, and removed from the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.
Mr Dames made these remarks on Thursday while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Tradewinds 2018 closing ceremony, held at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) Coral Harbour base.
The Minister of National Security also called for regular raids to be held at the prison, following reports of a stabbing incident at the facility.
“That matter is under control and under investigation, I’m aware of that much,” he said.
“One of the things that I impress upon the leadership at Bahamas Department of Corrections is that I expect to see regular raids. That is extremely important.”
“Obviously I’ve been improving on that. They continue to seize.”
Mr Dames added that this is an issue plaguing correctional institutions around the world. He also expressed disappointment that prison officers played a role in some of these instances.
However, he noted that these errant officers form a “small minority”.
“Unfortunately, these inmates are being supported by men and women in uniform. Albeit a minority, but that is a fact. And wherever we find them, we’ll expose them and they will face the full brunt of the law. We make no apologies for that.
“We have had any number of successes this year and last year where officers have been found with illegal contraband in their possession, assisting . . . certain inmates, and some of them are currently before the courts. Some of them are no longer in the institution.
“I don’t expect that that will change. This is all a part of the business. You know you recruit people, many of [whom] the vast majority are committed to serving their country, and then there this a small minority who look at it as an opportunity to fill their pockets.”
The Minister added: “Well we’re interested in finding those persons and will continue to improve our strategies and continue to focus on that small segment. “
Mr Dames said there is no room for anything outside of “integrity, loyalty, and commitment to service” for men and women in uniform.
Comments
John 6 years, 4 months ago
And with more than half year to go the murder could zips pass FIFTY. Shooting in Culmersville leaves another adult male dead. How long, O Lord, how long.
John 6 years, 4 months ago
BTW seems like the prison was more orderly, under control and SAFER than the streets. There is certain degree of corruption and lawlessness that will exist in every prison. Criminals will find a way. Will be impossible or too expensive to stamp it out completely. Set your tolerance levels and deal harshly with those who are caught. Especially prison officers.
birdiestrachan 6 years, 4 months ago
Go on. "No Games Dames" Be very careful with corruption the Bahamas seems to be slipping into the abysses ; May the good Lord help us all. Never mind doc he can save nothing. he is in need of saving himself. He should acknowledge that fact and stop pretending to be a Savior himself. doc some of us know better.
birdiestrachan 6 years, 4 months ago
At least no games can not say even if he wishes to "It is the PLP fault"
sheeprunner12 6 years, 4 months ago
HM Fox Hill Prisons needs to split into two ....... Maximum Security needs to be taken to an offshore facility and become an Alcatraz .......... and the present facility can then continue to rehabilitate short term inmates. Until that is done, we are really wasting our time with hard core criminals ..... they are too comfortable in Nassau.
rawbahamian 6 years, 4 months ago
Well Mr. Dames, you can start by reactivating the cell phone jammers on the prison compound then all calls will have to be made from land lines which should be recorded, monitored and checked daily by an unannounced private entity and if the prison guards complain about invasion of privacy then tell that they caused it on themselves. Trust and respect is not just given, it has to be earned and their track records prove that they have abused them !
sheeprunner12 6 years, 4 months ago
So true .......... TIPS in full effect at HMP ...... To Insure Prompt Service
birdiestrachan 6 years, 4 months ago
guess who was there at the OBAN Fake signing this same fellow and Sands. Did they know it was fake? and what do they call that.??
TalRussell 6 years, 4 months ago
Ma Comrades, dispatch the same bulldozers used demolishing Shantytowns up to Fox Hill to begin with the demolishing Her Majesty's Vocational School certified as the country's official training center for a whole new generation growing younger by the day thugs....... Comrade Marvin it ain't just the corrupt among the staff that needs demolishing - it's continuing to follow old colonial system of imprisonment.... Comrade Minister, try smuggling-in some ways stop caging people like animals.... There is nothing much "correctional" goin' on behind them prison walls. Mandate that every court judge must spend one week confined to Fox Hill for every year they deliver imprisonment verdicts from benches... that every governing and opposition elected politician and appointed senator- likewise be made spend time confined to Fox Hill - including the Imperial red shirts cabinet -including you too, Mr. Minister - all just get feel for what they're sanctioning go on behind those high prison walls.
sheeprunner12 6 years, 4 months ago
ALL MAXIMUM SECURITY CONVICTS SHOULD CUT ROCK 12 HOURS EACH DAY ..... UNTIL THEY DIE ....... THEN CRIME WILL DECREASE A LOT.
TalRussell 6 years, 4 months ago
Ma Comrade, and, I take it that your also a Trump and Spence supporter?
bogart 6 years, 4 months ago
.....continuously ....exposing and prosecuting officers in any disciplined Forces should be a normal part of that Department.... that the people has been paying taxes to operste an pay salaries Taxpayers must know dey getting value fer all the 2.5 billion dollars in VAT done mismanaged.....an more VAT to pays to employ an pay salaries
Da public should not have to post videos showing prisoners doing someting illegal before measures is taken. Illegal migrant boats should not have to land onnthe Defence Force Base before action is taken Immigration office should not be filled wid files begore someting is done Police force should not be filled wid oberweight officers before dometing is done Police force should not run out of sufficient manpower officers or cars before someting is done Criminals should not be now routinely assassinating people ..like going strait up to dem an shooting dem dead..before someting is done All dese illegal guns should not be all over da place before someting is done.... Strangest ting like tings hav to be run right into da ground all over .... before action is taken....mudda sic Good luck Ministet Dames!!!
birdiestrachan 6 years, 4 months ago
Dames problem is he thinks he is a REAL police. Mr' Greenslade was for sure
birdiestrachan 6 years, 4 months ago
pay attention to his stance . it is the stance of a real police.
sheeprunner12 6 years, 4 months ago
So true ........ can Police trust HMP guards???????
John 6 years, 4 months ago
"Contraband cell phones are a real problem. They have allowed prisoners to surreptitiously deal drugs, run illegal businesses and even organize murders, right under the noses of guards and wardens. A single South Carolina prison recently detected 35,000 cell phone calls and texts over a 23-day period.Apr 7, 2016"
It has always been speculated that criminals continue to operate gangs and sell drugs from prison in The Bahamas and even authorize murders. So the matter has to be taken seriously and may help to crack the large number of murders the country has been experiencing over the past decade.
TalRussell 6 years, 4 months ago
Comrade John, take away the cockroaches and leave the contraband cell phones so as not shut down the outside communication of inmates with their families. Better still, stop with the imprisoning individuals who are neither a threat to society nor severely abused their bail conditions.... Why not have government departments, along with the corporations, to hold Job Fairs up at Fox Hill and in troubled communities.
rawbahamian 6 years, 4 months ago
I have noticed that Mr. Comrade Russel is always the critique but he never seems to come up with any viable solutions, he just uses any occassion to berate the Imperial Red Shirts. His juvenile approach to anything that is not PLP sanctioned or directed by, is nauseating !
TalRussell 6 years, 4 months ago
Ma Comrade rawBahamain, an official Report coming over the Fox Hill walls - point to there having been only 550 cockroaches per square under PLP - compared to current roaches headcount of 988 per square foot under current Imperial red shirts. The Report also claims that the roaches were much smaller in length under PLP and now much more longer with special mentioned that Inmates have noticed that over previous 13 months period are looking be most resilient selfish suckers of their kinds ever seen in prison's cell blocks. You should seek out copy Report, read yourself -particularly section that reds that when inmates flicks on lights - them roaches don't even scatter.
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