HMP Superintendent Should Be Placed On Leave
Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer has called for the superintendent of His Majesty’s Prison (HMP) in Balsam Ghut to be placed on administrative leave as investigations continue into the escape of two convicted inmates. The breakout has prompted a territory-wide manhunt, suspended police leave and renewed scrutiny of prison security and infrastructure.
Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer has urged that the superintendent of His Majesty’s Prison (HMP) be placed on administrative leave while internal and external investigations probe the escape of two dangerous inmates from Balsam Ghut. The two men, identified as convicted offenders Jose Almestica and John Burgos, escaped from HMP on 25 October.
Their disappearance triggered heightened security operations across the British Virgin Islands, with the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RIVPF) suspending leave for officers to support the ongoing searches. Police have said both men are considered dangerous and have recovered illegal firearms during intensified patrols following the breakout.
Governor Daniel Pruce has confirmed that multiple lines of inquiry are under way. He said the prison superintendent has launched an internal investigation and that he has commissioned a full, independent external investigation with support from the UK Ministry of Justice to determine how the escape occurred. ‘‘We should all stay calm,’’ the governor said, urging residents to continue daily activities while taking sensible personal security precautions and to report any sightings to police or Crime Stoppers.
Rymer said accountability is important at this stage. ‘‘The superintendent should be on administrative leave as we go through the internal processes and the external processes of understanding what took place there,’’ he stated, echoing public concerns about transparency and responsibility.
The escape has renewed criticism over conditions at HMP, with longstanding concerns about surveillance blind spots, ageing infrastructure and staffing shortages. Governor Pruce said some security upgrades were already underway at the facility, including improvements to CCTV coverage and communication systems for prison officers, and that all relevant agencies are coordinating on the response.
For residents, the immediate priority remains safety. Authorities continue the manhunt across the territory and ask the public not to approach the escapees. Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact the police or Crime Stoppers immediately. As investigations proceed, calls for administrative leave for the prison head underline the pressure on officials to provide answers and strengthen prison security to prevent future incidents that threaten public safety.
Primary source: BVI News