Government
Grand Turk Prison in Breach of Human Rights Standards, investigation finds
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
TurksandCaicos, March 14, 2023 – Despite significant upgrades, because of continued overcrowding, poor sanitation, and regular sewage issues, His Majesty’s Prison in Grand Turk is still not fit for human habitation, and is in breach of International Human Rights standards, says the TCI Human Rights Commission following recent investigations carried out in the facility.
The Commission conducted an unannounced review of the Prison on February 23, after receiving ‘information of alarming conditions’. They say what they found was unacceptable.
“The visit revealed that the facility is currently overcrowded with a total of 131 inmates, which included persons on remand,” said Sabrina Green, Head of the Commission. Some of the prisoners had been on remand for significant lengths of time impeding their access to justice, and the facilities themselves were found wanting.
“One of the major issues and concerns identified by the Commission was the back-up of sewage at the facility. The sewage network at the HMP is dated, and seems to be in disrepair. The system is not suited to the capacity of individuals housed there. Pipe blockages occur frequently, when foreign objects are flushed down the toilets, by the inmates, often as a form of protest. The current issue appears to have been caused by a rock being lodged in the pipes, causing the back-up in one of the septic tanks which resulted in an overflow,” Green explained
The issue was picked up on February 14th by Magnetic Media, when videos of the gray sludge, and overflowing bathrooms where inmates had to contend, were shared by inmates and their relatives. It took more than a week before concrete answers were provided for the public by the Ministry of Home Affairs, led by Minister Otis Morris. On February 21st, the Ministry admitted there were issues with sewage and said they were being dealt with. The visit by the Human Rights Commission was two days later.
Along with the sewage issue that the Commission reported to have found:
- Most of the showers are in disrepair except for the White Wing, and currently on one wing, every toilet on the left-hand side fails to flush.
- The new and improved Yellow Wing lies empty, despite its working facilities. Inmates cannot be housed in it because it is missing special doors, which can only be sourced from the UK.
- One of the ‘Women’s Wing’ door locks, also available only in the UK, still remains broken after being reported
by the Commission several years ago.
Prisoners, as pointed out by Green, have a right to an adequate standard of living and prison officers must ensure that proper health standards are met, under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 25). Despite this, the prison has repeatedly been found to have an inhumane standard of living for people on remand and inmates.
At this time, it is also a concern to the Commission that those incarcerated are getting no outdoor time; managers of the facility have admitted this, the statement says.
“Several of the previous Superintendents in charge of the facility have stated that the only solution is to build a new facility fit for the purpose of incarceration and rehabilitation. The problems with sewage at the facility are one of the many reasons the facility is not fit for human habitation.”
Magnetic Media interviewed Minister Morris regarding the report; he explained that while he had been out of the country, everything was, by now, ‘back to normal’. He also explained that, the Cabinet plans to visit the facility on March 8th, which is today – to see the beleaguered prison for themselves.
While challenges are evident and vexing, the Commission reports that there have been significant upgrades, namely:
- The facility stank of sewage. The authorities carried out extensive work on the sewage system in recent years, and now, problems with the sewage are dealt with quickly, even though they still occur.
- Previous reviews noted that the water provided to the inmates was discoloured. This was believed to be from rusty cisterns; now, it is of better quality.
- In the past, inmates were forced to use buckets in their cells to go to the toilet.
- The facility has improved, and Internal fencing and CCTV cameras have made it a much safer place.
Green admitted that Senior leadership and staff at the prison consistently make efforts to improve the environment. Also, funding for the facility has been acquired but there is a lot of work left to do, and that requires a greater sense of urgency.
“The Commission has been making regular visits to the facility for over a decade, and has witnessed many improvements. However, these improvements are noted as the best that the authorities can do, with the resources provided by the government, which tends to be temporary solutions to existing problems,” she explained.
There are efforts for rehabilitation at the prison, which the Commission also acknowledges. For example, she said, “The farm is an excellent tool for the rehabilitation of offenders, and the classroom at the facility houses have computers connected to the internet that allow several inmates to take online courses, providing genuine qualifications. These improvements, although commendable, are not enough to comply with International Human Rights standards,” Green maintained.
“There remain many problems with the facility, and each one dehumanises the inmates that little bit more, and acts as a barrier to effective rehabilitation.”
Using Norway, which has a recidivism rate of 20 percent, Commissioner Green has encouraged the authorities to focus on the prisoners’ wellbeing to make their efforts at rehabilitation effective.
Turks and Caicos, September 6, 2025 – The Office of the Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Tamica Prospere as the Director of the Department of Learning and Development within the Office of the Deputy Governor.
Mrs. Prospere holds a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Associate Diploma in Organisational Learning and Development (RQF Level 5), a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of the West Indies (UWI) and an Associate Degree in Education, also from UWI. She has further enhanced her credentials with certifications and coursework in content delivery, human resource management, talent management, and training and development from esteemed institutions, including Mico University College and CIPD.
With a strong foundation in public service and education in St. Lucia, Mrs. Prospere dedicated over a decade to classroom teaching at the secondary school level, beginning in 2002. During her tenure, she educated a diverse student body across various subjects, including Mathematics, Information Technology, and Life Skills, all aimed at fostering students’ personal and social well-being. She also facilitated community adult learning programs, showcasing her enduring commitment to promoting inclusive and varied educational opportunities.
Her career in public service in the Turks and Caicos Islands began in 2014 as a teacher at Marjorie Basden High School. From 2019, she served as the Learning and Development Manager for the legacy Customs Department and later for the TCI Border Force. In this role, she made significant contributions to improvements and championed a culture of professional growth.
Mrs. Prospere has been a strong advocate for leadership development through several key programmes. She conceptualised and introduced
the Leading Effectively through Accountability and Development (LEAD) programme for the management team, which has successfully run for three consecutive years, with its most recent leadership reinforcement event held in 2025. Additionally, she implemented several programmes in partnership with educational institutions, resulting in 27 Border Force officers earning continuing professional development (CPD) certifications in supervisory management from UWI and 10 managers completing the Dynamic Leadership course with the Caribbean Maritime University.
She played a pivotal role in developing operational strategic plans and frameworks for both the Customs Department and the TCI Border Force. Mrs. Prospere spearheaded the creation and delivery of professional programmes, such as the Customs Broker Certification Programme. She introduced a Learning Management System (LMS) to facilitate scalable learning for aspiring Customs Brokers.
Moreover, she led the implementation of several significant projects, most notably the Regional Clearance System in the TCI and a comprehensive revamp of customs procedures at Howard Hamilton International Airport, which greatly enhanced operational efficiency. She also facilitated key engagements that strengthened partnerships with leading regional bodies, including the Caribbean Customs Legislation and Enforcement Council (CCLEC), the border security team within CARICOM IMPACS, and the customs advisory arm of CARTAC. These collaborations were instrumental in securing vital technical assistance for training.
Speaking on the appointment, Mrs. Prospere said, “I am honoured to step into this role and lead the Learning and Development Directorate. I believe that a world-class public service is built together. I’m dedicated to partnering with civil servants at all levels to foster a dynamic learning environment where we can collectively develop the skills needed to be adaptable, exceed standards, and deliver truly exceptional service to the public.”
In congratulating Mrs. Prospere, Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, H.E. Anya Williams stated, “We are pleased to extend congratulations to Mrs. Tamica Prospere on her appointment as the new Director of the Department of Learning and Development within the Office of the Deputy Governor.
With over a decade of dedicated service in the field of training and development, Mrs. Prospere has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to building capacity and strengthening the public service workforce in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Her innovative and strategic approach to learning has transformed teams and empowered individuals, ensuring the public service is well-equipped to meet the demands of a constantly evolving landscape.
As the government continues its efforts to enhance service delivery through robust and comprehensive training initiatives, we are confident that Mrs. Prospere’s leadership will be instrumental in advancing a culture of excellence, collaboration and continuous growth across the public sector.
Congratulations Mrs. Prospere, on your well-deserved promotion. We look forward to working with you to shape the future of learning and development in the Public Service in the Turks and Caicos Islands.”
Turks and Caicos, September 6, 2025 – The Office of the Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands is proud to announce the appointment of Ms. Melissa Holland as the new Public Service Information Officer within the Office of the Deputy Governor.
Ms. Holland holds an Associate Degree in Business from Turks and Caicos Community College, a Creative Suite Certificate in Website Development from StackSkills, and an Administrative Professional Certification from the College of Administrative Professionals. She has also engaged in continuous learning through Coursera.
Over the course of her career, Ms. Holland has accumulated valuable experience in various roles. She began her journey as a Clerical Officer
at the Ministry of Education from June 2007 to May 2009 and was promoted to Secretary to the CEO from December 2009 to April 2010. Subsequently, she served as the Assistant to the Director of Sales, Marketing & Rentals at Apes Hill Club in Barbados from May 2011 to July 2014. Ms. Holland then took on the role of Office Assistant at Growing Soul Records in Miami, FL, from August 2014 to October 2015, followed by another position as an Office Assistant at Arrow Electronics in Denver, CO, from November 2015 to June 2018.
In June 2018, she became a Multimedia Specialist at Shop Genesis and later transitioned to the role of Creative Director at Black Sage Analytics from September 2020 to 2022. More recently, she served as an Administrative Officer at the Ministry of Health and Human Services from December 2022 to March 2023, before moving to the Ministry of Immigration and Border Services as an Administrative Officer from March 2023 to August 2025. She acted as the Communications Officer for Border Force in September 2023.
Upon her appointment, Ms. Holland shared her enthusiasm, stating, “My journey from capturing moments through lifestyle photography to creating designs that honor the vibrance of Caribbean culture has been shaped by both creativity and faith. Stepping into the role of Public Service Information Officer is a privilege and an exciting opportunity to unite my love for storytelling with service. Guided by Proverbs 3:5-6, I trust God to continue directing my path and using my gifts for a greater purpose”.
Her Excellency Anya Williams, Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, congratulated Ms. Holland, stating, “We are delighted to congratulate Ms. Melissa Holland on her appointment as Public Service Information Officer and to welcome her to our team in the Office of the Deputy Governor.
In this important role, Ms. Holland will be responsible for the accurate and timely dissemination of both internal and external communications related to the operations of the public service, including circulars, notices, appointment announcements and other official updates.
We are confident that Ms. Holland’s diverse background and professional expertise will be invaluable in fulfilling these responsibilities and we look forward to the meaningful contributions she will undoubtedly bring to the team.
Congratulations, Ms. Holland, on your new appointment!”
