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Author Topic: CABLE TV FOR INMATES  (Read 1059 times)

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Offline Touches

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CABLE TV FOR INMATES
« on: March 02, 2012, 05:56:49 AM »
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/CABLE-TV-FOR-INMATES-140986213.html

CABLE TV FOR INMATES
Coming soon at Santa Rosa prison
By Anna Ramdass anna.ramdass@trinidadexpress.com

Story Created: Mar 1, 2012 at 1:13 AM ECT

Story Updated: Mar 1, 2012 at 10:45 AM ECT

Plans are under way to install cable television at the multi-million-dollar Santa Rosa prison so inmates will have the luxury of watching a variety of channels while serving time for their crimes.

Commissioner of Prisons Martin Martinez confirmed to the Express yesterday that he intends to install cable TV at the prison.

He said this is necessary “if we are talking about reform and rehabilitation”.

“That is the plan, we already have televisions in all our prisons, Port of Spain, Carrera... in the new facility, it will be no different,” said Martinez.

At the other prisons, he said, only local programming is available to the prisoners, but in the Santa Rosa prison this will be upgraded.

Asked if cable-ready televisions will be placed in the cells, Martinez explained that there are dormitories, not cells, at the Santa Rosa prison.

He said there are dormitory areas where inmates are housed, and a minimum of 13 prisoners to a maximum of 26 will be kept in each dormitory.

At present, the Santa Rosa prison is empty, but Martinez said gradually prisoners will be moved from other prisons to the new facility to relieve the overcrowding problem.

At the Senate sitting on Tuesday, National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy said Government spent close to $60 million to modify and lease the Santa Rosa facility to accommodate a prison because of the urgent need for a place to house prisoners held during the State of Emergency last year.

The Santa Rosa facility was rented at $850,000 a month for a six-month period, which expired last month.

A total of $50 million was spent to modify the venue, and another $3,329,250 for office accommodation. He said consideration was being given to purchase the property from its owners—Wala Wala Ltd.

Martinez said this was a “wonderful idea” which he supports fully.

However, one of the directors of Wala Wala Ltd, Dr George Laquis, said he is still waiting on word from the Government as to what it plans to do—whether to continue to lease the facility or purchase it.

Laquis told the Express the millions spent on rent and modifications were justifiable, and those who levelled criticisms (Opposition Senator Fitzgerald Hinds) do not know about real estate and its value.

He said Government got a good deal in paying $850,000 a month rent for the facility and Wala Wala Ltd could have made more money if it had proceeded with its initial plan to turn the venue into an indoor merchandise mart—which Laquis said would have been the “MovieTowne of the East”.

Laquis said plans were already completed and many big and small tenants had already expressed interest in the mart. He noted that the facility is over 400,000 square feet of building on 16.32 acres of land.

Laquis pointed out that Santa Rosa and environs are lucrative in terms of setting up commercial space because of the high population base. He noted that Trincity Mall, Food Basket and Naipaul’s Xtra Foods Supermarket are all operating successfully in the East.

While the plan to turn the facility into a booming business is put on hold until Government makes a decision, Laquis said he was impressed by the transformation of the facility into what he described as the “best prison in Trinidad”.

He said he was in awe of how spacious the place was and he also confirmed cable TV was to be installed.

Laquis said Wala Wala Ltd will cooperate with the Government and “if it is in everybody’s best interest to sell, we will sell”.

During the State of Emergency last year, prisoners had to be evacuated from the Santa Rosa prison because of a leaking roof. Sandy said the roof was repaired at the expense of Wala Wala Ltd. Asked yesterday how much was spent to fix the roof, Laquis said the company spent a total of $5 million in renovations, inclusive of the roof work.


A for apple, B for Bat, C for yuhself!

Offline Touches

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Re: CABLE TV FOR INMATES
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2012, 06:03:41 AM »
Now I am a bit amused by the number of comments, polls and letters to the editor that this article received.

Everybody is saying what next, kfc and subway for the prisoners etc and everyone is against it.

However, it is not the maximum security prison this is being done in. This is a prison for softer crimes. A temporary holding facility where they keep you while they try to gather evidence, before eventually setting you free.

This facility will be used for those with things such as unpaid child payments, people who have not paid parking tickets, deportees and other less serious crimes.

I will go against the grain and say I think it is not a bad idea. I am sure the programming will be monitored and not every inmate will have remote to flip channels at will.

This institution is to integrate people back into society and I don't see anything wrong with allowing conjugal visits for deserving prisoners or well behaved ones either.


A for apple, B for Bat, C for yuhself!

Offline Brownsugar

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Re: CABLE TV FOR INMATES
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2012, 07:02:07 AM »
People up in arms over this??  Please....... ::)
"...If yuh clothes tear up
Or yuh shoes burst off,
You could still jump up when music play.
Old lady, young baby, everybody could dingolay...
Dingolay, ay, ay, ay ay,
Dingolay ay, ay, ay..."

RIP Shadow....The legend will live on in music...

Offline sammy

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Re: CABLE TV FOR INMATES
« Reply #3 on: March 02, 2012, 09:52:17 AM »
switch it to ARTS and leave it
"Giving away something in charity does not cause any decrease in a person's wealth, but increases it instead. The person who adopt humility for the sake of Allah is exalted in ranks by Him".
(Muslim)

Offline Bourbon

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Re: CABLE TV FOR INMATES
« Reply #4 on: March 02, 2012, 10:03:29 AM »
switch it to ARTS and leave it

You want de men come out vex with society or wha?
The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today are Christians who acknowledge Jesus ;with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.

Offline weary1969

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Re: CABLE TV FOR INMATES
« Reply #5 on: March 02, 2012, 11:54:33 AM »
switch it to ARTS and leave it

You want de men come out vex with society or wha?

 :rotfl:
Today you're the dog, tomorrow you're the hydrant - so be good to others - it comes back!"

 

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