Lewd dancing at jail?
...not so, says Prisons Commissioner
Published on Dec 23, 2016, 9:37 pm AST
By Alexander Bruzual and Mark Bassant
arouca
Did scantily clad women dance for prisoners at the Maximum Security Prison (MSP) in Arouca during a bike show last Saturday?
Several senior prisons sources have alleged this is exactly what happened, and are disgusted such an event could even happen at a high-risk location. But Prisons Commissioner Sterling Stewart said yesterday it’s far from the truth.
TV6 News was informed the Maximum Security Prison, which houses about 600 inmates, was transformed last Saturday into “a free-for-all party†when a bike show along with what senior prisons sources described as “provocative dancing by women†took place in an area within the jail.
Sources say the event approved by the Prisons Commissioner started close to 1 p.m.
TV6 News spoke with Anthony “Mad Max†Cox, a well-known stunt bikeman, who said he performed at the event along with another colleague, showing off their skills to several inmates who were in close proximity.
Cox said close to 75 other biker colleagues were there to lend support for what, he said, was a charity event.
TV6 News was, however, further told women were allowed onto the prison compound dressed in leggings and other scanty attire and, during the course of the afternoon, they danced in a “lewd and a suggestive manner†for inmates who were howling and shouting in Âexcitement during the event.
TV6 News spoke to several prison sources who expressed their disgust such an event was allowed to be staged at the prison, which should be focusing on reform and rehabilitation.
They claimed one officer captured video images of the event, and attempts were being made to track down that prison officer to ensure the footage did not go viral.
However, Stewart yesterday denied any lewd dancing took place on the compound, saying some officers were trying to create mischief.
He said the event was a bike display done free of charge to raise funds for a charity during this Yuletide season.
“Approval was given for them (bike men) to come and give these inmates who are at MSP a show. The display of certain skills were chosen by this organisation,†ÂStewart said.
Stewart said the event was held along the roadway within the confines of MSP, and that a risk assessment would have been done ahead of time.
“The superintendent in charge would ensure that all the necessary safety and security precautions are taken before anything is done in the prison,†Stewart said.
The Prisons Commissioner also confirmed women were allowed to attend the event, but could not shed any light on whether they were dressed scantily or comment on their behaviour.
“The superintendent in charge would know the dress code of the prison service... Now what I can say is that I am aware that some persons did not dress according to the prison service code and that is my contention...
“I don’t know how scantily they were dressed... I was not informed on that nor did I get a report that they were dressed in any provocative, disrespectful way to entice or whatever,†Stewart said.
The prison commissioner further contended prisons officers were not embracing of holistic change to help reform prisoners in a different manner, and they were content to lock these prisoners away and Ârevert to the old system.
TV6 News reached out to Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon about the allegations made by prison officers who were working at the event.
However, up to press time last night, Dillon did not respond.
