Trinidad & Tobago Prison Officers’ Association cautions on inmate labour plan

The Prison Officers’ Association (POA) of Trinidad and Tobago has urged caution over Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander’s proposal to employ convicted inmates sentenced to hard labour in public‑space maintenance under the National Programme for the Upkeep of Public Spaces (NPUPS). The association acknowledges that structured work can aid rehabilitation, but stresses that only medically fit inmates who have served an appropriate portion of their sentence and passed comprehensive risk assessments should be considered.

The POA warns that expanding inmate work outside correctional facilities requires adequate security measures, sufficient staffing, secure transportation, proper equipment and reliable communication devices. It also highlighted broader challenges such as overcrowding, staffing shortages and the growing inmate population, urging that these deficiencies be addressed before any external work programme is implemented.