What crime was committed? This is the question on the lips of prison officers at the adult penitentiary located in Dodds, St. Phillip.

The Question

Barbados Weekly is reliably informed that there is currently disgruntlement among the rank-and-file at Barbados’ lone prison after forty prison officers were allegedly found at a pool party with ex prison inmates in attendance. Current rules prohibit fraternisation between prison officers and ex inmates. Such actions are seen as breaching the legislation regulating prisons and the prison officers’ rule book but the practicality of these rules is being called into question.

Essentially, Barbados is a small place comprising close-quartered communities. Is it reasonable to expect prison officers to avoid mingling with ex-inmates when said officers and inmates are geographically bound to mix?

More Context

A reliable source spoke with Barbados Weekly on the matter stating that, “Barbados is a small country, and I don’t see why prison officers who attended the pool party are being chastised, singled out by the issuing of letters and instilled fear of punishment to be decided. Why? What did we do? All persons did was buy a ticket to attend a paid event. We did not know who was going to be there. You can’t stop anyone from going anywhere.”

He added, “The country was locked down for a long time with covid”. This reference to COVID relates to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): An infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus which as of publication date is attributed as being the cause of 479 deaths in Barbados and over 6 million deaths worldwide.

The source continued: “Now things are opening back up, persons want to get out and enjoy themselves. You can’t stop persons from going anywhere and with all the events happening now you will see people so even though the rule books say we should not mix or befriend ex inmates or attend gatherings where said inmates may be this is a difficult request, and I don’t see why they are pushing the issue.”

He noted, “Why are wardens being pulled over the coals over something we have no control over. We did nothing wrong. The pool party was a paid event that persons bought tickets to attend. It’s like going to Reggae on the Hill, Powder, or any social event. We can’t stop every ex-inmate from attending social events. This is a free country, and it is small so there is a likelihood of seeing ex inmates at events and other places.”

A Question for Us All

Another colleague added, “They are asking persons to squeeze water from a rock with this impossibility. Do I or my colleagues stop going to public places or events because ex inmates will be there? … Let’s be honest with ourselves. What they are asking is impossible. It is a tricky situation.”

Official Commentary

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