The Minister of Public Safety, Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin, has confirmed that the island will be getting a new prison facility, scheduled for 2020, with the approval of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.
Benjamin shared that the new, modern facility is to improve the welfare of both convicted and remanded prisoners.
Posed with queries on the bids for construction of the proposed facility, Benjamin could not share those details, but insisted that the Tenders Board Act would be fully complied with.
This news will have come as a welcome development for social advocates, who have been lobbying against the unsatisfactory conditions at Her Majesty’s Prison for some time now.
It is yet to be known what will be done to Her Majesty’s Prison upon the completion and start of operations in this proposed facility.