Deputy prisons commissioner laments killings of prisons officers

WITH the killings of three prisons officers in the last three weeks, Deputy Commissioner of Prisons Mookish Pulliah on Saturday said it seems as if the criminal elements are trying to take over.

He said not only is the prisons service and family members hurting, but the entire country is also in pain.

Pulliah urged prisons officers to remain dedicated to the service, to the country and to strong. He was speaking at the funeral of murdered prisons officer Stephon Richardson at Mt Pleasant London Baptist Church in Indian Walk, Moruga.

Last Sunday night, Richardson, 30, was shot dead in front of the same church by men in a car.

Pulliah said in the last 30 years, 24 prisons officers were also killed.

“I urge you to keep strong, hold fast to the core principals and never allow yourself to fall prey or to be influenced by the criminal elements out there,” he said. He called on others to be an exemplar as Richards was.

Richards, he said, did not only have impressive credentials but his demeanour in how he carried himself was admirable. “I remember telling him that he was the kind of person that the service wanted. I was impressed by his demeanour and mannerism.”

He said as an administrator it was not an easy to stand at the funeral of someone who he knew and considered a son.

“In no way, this is easy. I want to say I know what you all are going through. I feel the pain myself.” Pulliah said his role goes beyond being an administrator but was also one of giving guidance to young prisons officers.

Delivering the eulogy, Richardson's aunt Bernadeen Marshall said she, like everyone else, wants answers for what she described as a senseless killing.

“I am searching for answers just like you. Why Lord?” she asked.

She said Richards had graduated with first class honours from the University of the West Indies had a bright future ahead of him, and was loved and admired by all.

To date, no one has been held for his murder.