One of three runaway wards back in custody; second to return
Published:Saturday | December 11, 2021 | 12:07 AM
One of the wards of the state who absconded from the Metcalfe Street Secure Juvenile Remand Centre on Monday is back in custody and a second is expected to be returned to the facility based on dialogue with his family.
This was disclosed in the Senate on Friday by Matthew Samuda, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of National Security with responsibility for the correctional services.
“I expect a second to be back in custody based on outreach of family and a third should also be back in custody in short order as the JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) continue to assist us in the investigations,” he said.
The three juveniles, aged 12 to 17, were being held on serious charges in the juvenile facility.
Samuda told his colleague senators that one of the wards was charged for murder.
With earlier reports indicating that the ventilation area made of concrete was destroyed by the wards, Samuda quipped that they escaped in “very interesting circumstances”.
He added: “They have to be very strong, quite frankly, to break free from the infrastructure that housed them”.
The minister gave the assurance that steps have been made to strengthen security arrangements in a section of Metcalfe facility.
Samuda said that it was the management of COVID-19 situation that created the environment for the escape.
“When persons are exposed, when persons go to court they have to be separated from the rest of the population whether in the juvenile or adult facility,” he said.
However, Samuda said that the incident has prompted a security review to ensure that all the areas being used for separation of those who have COVID or return from court were properly secured.