Prison officers must band together

AS colleagues, family and friends of Wayne Earl Jackson gathered yesterday at the Bethel Outreach Church in Arima to pay their final respects, words of encouragement were given to prison officers and a promise was made by all arms of National Security to band together to fight crime.

“Until we start working together and protecting each other in our own spheres we will not be able to combat successfully the scourge of crime,” said National Security Minister Stuart Young. “So prison officers I stand here today as Minister of National Security, to give you the full commitment of all the arms of law enforcement. We will stand with you. We will fight this battle together and we are not afraid.”

In two eulogies, one read by his son and another read by a member of his batch, Jackson was lauded as a hero, who maintained his work ethic while in the prison service for 30 years, and held on to his integrity despite constant threats and attempts at intimidation.

“Let me say categorically that Wayne Jackson was an excellent prisons officer," said Carlos Corraspie, "He was a great soul who worked in an environment of constant threats. Wayne Jackson is no victim. He is truly a hero. We, his batch, will carry him in our hearts and in our convictions to stand as Wayne stood and to do right by our service and our country as he has done.”

Commissioner of Prisons Dane Clarke highlighted that over the past year four prison officers were killed in the line of duty, but asked his officers to remember Jackson's dedication, even in the face of the danger that prison officers face daily.

“It is essential we remember Mr Jackson in the light of being a steadfast and dedicated officer. As he stated in his final interview with author Debbie Jacob, he would like to be remembered as an officer who tried to have a positive impact on officers and inmates. Mr Jackson was a man who hoped, believed, persevered, and had unwavering faith. He served like no other in the Prison Service with pride and distinction for over 30 years. Let us be the change that we want. I know it is difficult to put aside the rage and the anger, but by the strength that God has put inside us, let us work so that we can make Mr Wayne Jackson smile from above,” Clarke said.

On October 8 2017, Prison officer Richard Sandy was murdered in Gasparillo. Two weeks later, prison officer Glenford Gardener was murdered in Diego Martin. In January this year, Prison Officer 2 Davindra Boodooram was murdered while in traffic in Port of Spain, and last week, 53-year-old Jackson was shot dead in the driveway of his home in Malabar, Arima.

According to reports he was approached by a gunman and shot multiple times, minutes after he left his post at the Maximum Security Prison in Golden Grove. He died at the scene. Jackson was one of 22 prison officers who have been killed in the past 28 years.

While no one has been charged with Jackson’s murder, three people were detained by police and questioned in the investigation into his death.

Jackson was buried at the Industry Cemetery, D’Abadie after a military procession from J Chai Trading on the Eastern Main Road to the cemetery.