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ST JOHN’S, Antigua (Jan 21 2016) – The sole prison in Antigua is being affected by an outbreak of chickenpox. Local reports say the number of confirmed cases has climbed to more than 50.
The prison which was built to house 150 inmates now has a population of 393.
Earlier this week it was announced that about 100 of the 393 inmates in Antigua’s overcrowded jail will be granted early release by next month, National Security Minister Steadroy Benjamin has announced.
The scores to be released include prisoners convicted of minor offences and first-time offenders.
“Under the Convicts License Act, a number of prisoners will be released, and under the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act and the Prison Extramural Sentencing Act, about 41 more will be released. We hope that by the middle of February at least 100 prisoners will be set free in this particular manner,” he is quoted in the Antigua Observer as saying.
Those released from Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) under the Convicts Licence Act will be placed on work programmes designed to equip them with skills to make them employable.