St. Maarten Private Eye

38 Laptops confiscated in Bon Futuro

WILLEMSTAD – Bon Futuro-prison management confiscated 38 laptops yesterday. Reason for this action was the publication of a videoclip inside the prison walls of- and by the prisoners on several websites.

The use of laptops is allowed for education in prison. There are currently many laptops in circulation in prison due to this policy. Due to the videoclip, the decision was now made to reverse this policy.

Justice-minister David Dick (PAR) says that it turned out that prisoners using laptops, is a tricky business. “They can unsupervised communicate with the outside world. That’s not a good idea. The communication with the outside world has to be supervised, just like we do with letters.”

Dick says that they will continue investigating the videoclip. He says that he will soon receive recommendations of a committee on how to improve the situation in Prison. He says that this project has been going for a long time. He didn’t say anything about the objects used in the clip, like a mobile telephone, knives, and a joint.

Amigoe.com

WILLEMSTAD – After riots broke out in prison yesterday, the Bon Futuro management proclaimed an emergency measure this morning,. During this measure that applies to all the cell blocks but numbers 5 and 6, the prisoners are not allowed to air, and they eat in their cells, said prison-governor Bartholomeus Andrea.

The emergency measure will basically last for three days and falls under Andrea’s responsibility. The director is authorized to take the necessary measures to secure the peace and quite in the prison. Justice-minister David Dick (PAR) can extend the measure over and over again with three days.

Reason for the riots was the decision of the prison management to confiscate 38 laptops, which happened after they learned that a videoclip of the prisoners, created within the walls of Bon Futuro by the prisoners, was published on the internet. The prisoners demanded their laptop back and started a protest.

During the protest, the prisoners of block two broke doors and started fires. It was the anti-riot squad of the prison that with the use of teargas, suppressed the riots. About 60 prisoners had to be locked up in the sport hall, because during the riots, several door locks were broken off. They were put in special cells afterwards. Pepper spray had to be used this morning to keep the prisoners in these special cells under control.

Andrea and Minister Dick indicated this morning that the laptops will not be returned to the prisoners. Andrea says that the prisoners have abused his confidence, while the minister said that under these circumstances, laptops will no longer be tolerated in prison.

He also indicated that he’s going to investigate how the prisoners got hold of wireless internet in prison.

Amigoe.com