British companies seeking to build prison in Jamaica

Thursday, October 2, 2003

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Two British companies are in talks with Jamaica's government to build a maximum security prison there. The Associated Press is reporting that the as yet unnamed companies, have already approached Jamaican security officials about the plan. Details of the proposal have yet to be worked out, AP quoted Mr. Mark Waller, a spokesman at the British High Commission in Kingston, as saying. 

"The Ministry of National Security has had discussions with UK companies on proposals to operate a maximum security prison here," Waller said.

While calling the prison a "strictly commercial" venture, Waller said the facility could also serve to house Jamaicans serving time in British prisons if the two countries sign a prisoner transfer agreement.

The idea has been promoted by local British officials and non-government groups, who say the large number of Jamaicans convicted on drug offenses are overburdening Britain's prison system, according to AP.

But a spokesman for Jamaica's National Security Ministry said it was unaware of any talks about a new prison. "We know nothing about it," Mr. Donovan Nelson was quoted as saying. "There's no official communication about building a prison."

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