150 Inmates – Algernon Watts
150 Inmates Remain Prison
About 150 inmates remain housed in a structurally unsafe wing of His Majesty’s Prison that Prime Minister Gaston Browne says could collapse “at any time”, potentially injuring or killing people in the government’s custody.
The disclosure raises immediate questions about why the section remains occupied, whether it has been formally assessed by structural engineers and what measures are being taken to protect or relocate prisoners while the government prepares to build a replacement facility.
Browne only revealed the severity of the situation on Saturday while responding to criticism of the government’s decision to spend millions of dollars on a new prison when other public infrastructure also requires attention.
He said Prison Superintendent Trevor Pennyfeather had brought the condition of the wing to the government’s attention.
“There is a wing that houses about 150 people in the prison that… it’s structurally unsound and could collapse at any time,” Browne said.
“The last thing we want is that facility to collapse and prisoners to get hurt or die for that matter.”
Browne went on to describe the occupied structure in stark terms.
“The building is practically an abandoned building… providing shelter for 150 prisoners,” he said. “We have to build a new facility as soon as possible to avoid a potential disaster.”
The prime minister did not announce any immediate evacuation or temporary relocation of the inmates during the interview.
Nor did he provide details on what measures have been put in place to reduce the danger in the meantime.
Instead, Browne pointed to the condition of the wing as justification for the government’s recently announced plan to construct a new prison.
“So it is a matter of urgency, it’s a matter of need for us to build something for them,” he said. “Failing which, we could end up with a disaster.”
Cabinet approved the construction of a new modular prison at the Prison Farm in the Potworks Dam area on 12 August.
Under the plan, the facility is to be constructed in phases, with the first phase capable of accommodating approximately 150 inmates. The longer-term intention is to phase out the existing St John’s prison. Cabinet said at the time that the government would proceed with the “necessary planning and implementation arrangements”, but did not announce a construction start or completion date.
That means the proposed facility does not provide an immediate solution for the prisoners currently occupying the wing Browne has described as being at risk of collapse.
The latest warning also comes against a lengthy record of problems at His Majesty’s Prison that successive administrations have struggled to resolve.
The institution, commonly known as “1735”, has been plagued by overcrowding, poor sanitation, security weaknesses and deteriorating infrastructure for years.
When Pennyfeather took charge in 2023, he identified prison conditions including infestation, overcrowding and sanitation among his major concerns. He said at the time that entire divisions needed to be completely renovated and returned to service and that additional cells were needed to give the institution more space.
At that point, the prison population was reported to be around 400, despite the institution having originally been intended to accommodate about 150 people.
The problems did not begin with Pennyfeather’s tenure.
In 2018, part of the prison kitchen roof collapsed amid complaints about the state of the institution. At the time, the prison housed 318 inmates, and officials again pointed to construction of a new prison as the long-term solution.
Concerns remained years later. In 2024, Pennyfeather said the roof of Division B needed to be restored while security at another wing also required strengthening.
International assessments have repeatedly documented the conditions.
The US State Department’s 2023 human rights report described prison conditions in Antigua and Barbuda as “harsh” because of overcrowding and outdated infrastructure.
The government has responsibility for the care and security of people lawfully held in its custody, whether they are convicted prisoners or awaiting trial.
Browne said the first phase of the proposed replacement prison has been discussed at around EC$5 million.
