St. Martin News Network - Justice Minister Will Not Negotiate with Prison Inmates Association.

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Philipsburg:--- Minister of Justice Roland Duncan made clear on Wednesday that he has no intention to discuss or negotiate with the Prison Inmates Association who was on strike last week. He said the Prison Director was in talks with the Prison Inmates Association but in his view the prisoners working at the Pointe Blanche Prison that were on strike were striking illegally because they are not a union. Duncan also blamed the media for "romanticizing" the events at the prison. He said the actions of the inmates were all illegal especially lighting a fire within the confines of the prison and taking away keys from a prison guard.
Minister Duncan further explained that the Inmates Association filed a court case which will be heard on Friday and his Ministry intends to file a counter claim. The Justice Minister said he instructed the Prison Director to hire more staff because if the inmates do not want to work and make money while incarcerated then he would have to find people to work. "When more staff is hired the prisoners will not have any work. I have a department within the prison that sews the uniforms for the Justice Ministry and if they too don't want to work then I would have to stop the program and outsource the work."

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