Young: Search continues for ten IDC detainees

NATIONAL Security Minister Stuart Young says the search continues for ten people who escaped from the Immigration Detention Centre (IDC) in Aripo last week.

He was speaking with Newsday in a brief telephone interview Sunday.

"At this stage there continues to be searches for the escapees. I have nothing further to report."

Young said he has been in contact with Acting Chief Immigration Officer Charmaine Gandhi-Andrews about "hardening up" security at the IDC.

At the post-Cabinet media conference on Thursday he reiterated that the Eastern Correctional Facility in Santa Rosa has been declared an IDC and had announced he scheduled to visit it today.

He said the capacity of the IDC would have been increased by 100 per cent with 150 occupancy at the IDC in Aripo and 150 in Santa Rosa. He explained men and women would be separated and the current IDC in Aripo would be for females and the IDC in Santa Rosa for males.

"My understanding is the Eastern Correctional Facility is ready for inspection. I intend to inspect it early this week."

According to reports, at about 5.30 pm on Wednesday, Northern Division police were told 12 men – 11 Venezuelan and one Grenadian – had been missing from their rooms. Police responded with search parties in the area and two escapees were recaptured on Thursday. According to reports the two recaptured detainees are Venezue­lans Char­lie Perez Jose and Clau­dio Flo­res.