Two prison guards out
after fight at lunchtime
POINTE BLANCHE--One St. Maarten prison guard has been suspended and another relieved for medical reasons following an altercation at the Pointe Blanche House of Detention Tuesday that has prompted an investigation by officials within the prison.
A lunchtime quarrel over the return of a cell phone from a superior officer led to a lower-ranking guard allegedly shoving him around and punching him several times, said Prison Director Rudsel Ricardo Thursday. The prison has launched an investigation to determine just what happened during the altercation, which other guards stepped in to quell.
The alleged instigator was suspended pending the investigation while the chief prison guard he reportedly assaulted was temporarily relieved of duty for medical reasons, as he complained of back problems and other pains following the incident.
Ricardo does not see this matter as a reflection of swelling tensions at the prison. He said the incident, which appeared mostly to be insubordination by the lower-ranking guard against his chief, was isolated. “When somebody is upset [he becomes] aggressive,” said Ricardo. His interpretation of the matter, from preliminary information, is that the chief prison guard would not relinquish the phone without permission from Ricardo, who was not present at the time.
Antillean Justice Minister David Dick confirmed his knowledge of an incident at the prison, but chose not to comment before having the official report of the investigation.
Curaçao-based union ABVO refused to comment on the matter when contacted on Wednesday, while Windward Islands Civil Servants Union/Private Sector Union (WICSU/PSU) was unaware of the situation when called.
Ricardo said the absence of two guards in the prison, which has in the past been plagued with fears of guard shortages, would not affect the way duties were divided, thanks in part to the assistance of guards from Curaçao.
