Another inmate killed in Hattieville
No one ever said that prison is a pleasant place to hang out, but recent events have shown that the confines of the Hattieville Correctional Facility represent perhaps the most dangerous place in Belize. This afternoon another inmate left the institution in a body bag.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
27-year old Glenford Gillette was in the prison yard when he was murdered. Gillette who’s believe to be a member of the Crips gang, is a deportee from the United States and was serving a five year sentence for the possession of a crack pipe and robbery. According Prison Governor Bernard Adolphus, the inmates from maximum security had just come out of their cells for recreation time and were on the compound when one, Kelvin Francis picked up a steel rod and stab Gillette in the stomach.
Jacqueline Woods
“You said Mister Adolphus that something happened that triggered this morning’s incident. What happened?”
Bernard Adolphus, Governor of Prison
“That’s a good question. I think that’s what we are investigating right now because this thing happened in the recreation yard, it just happened. We just found the instrument that was used, the police are still here investigating this thing.”
Jacqueline Woods
“What was used?”
Bernard Adolphus
“It was a borer, but the correct thing is a steel rod that “jucked” the man in his side and that’s it.”
However, Adolphus suspects the murder was gang related. He says one month after Gillette, was incarcerated on November 27th 1999, he was involved in the murder of fellow inmate Gerald Tasher, who was a member of the rival Bloods gang.
Bernard Adolphus
“I don’t want to speculate, but there is a possibility because we were trying to hold this thing down for quite some time, but sometimes things just happen. We try our best to do certain things, but other things will happen.”
Jacqueline Woods
“When you say you were trying to hold this thing down for quite sometime…”
Bernard Adolphus
“Trying to keep down the violence, trying to stabilize this institution.”
Jacqueline Woods
“So you all were anticipating something to happen?”
Bernard Adolphus
“Everyday, everyday you have to anticipate something will happen in this prison. So we will beef up our security, we improve our night security, we strengthen the locks, and a number of things we have done, but this is what took place today.”
Francis, who is also a deportee from the United States remains in police custody and is expected to be charged sometime on Wednesday. Meanwhile Adolphus says they will beef up on security and severely punish those inmates who continue to give trouble behind bars.
Bernard Adolphus
“Some people do not like to hear it, but other measures will have to be taken to stop this from happening in this institution. they do not control this institution, they do not control this officer, and they do not control this management. They cannot do what they want in prison.”
