TORTOLA, British Virgin Island (CMC) — The Government of the British Virgin Islands has expressed concern about the treatment being meted out to the 21 inmates who were transferred to St Lucia in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

According Myron Walwyn, the minister responsible for prisons, during a recent visit to St Lucia, he met with prisoners who complained about matters related to healthcare and food.

Walywyn said the issues were addressed when he met with St Lucian officials.

“Even though they are in St Lucia, they are still prisoners who are serving at Her Majesty’s pleasure and so those things are in our constitution and we need to make sure that those things are taken care of.”

However, he said he was satisfied that the rights of BVI inmates were not violated and the issues raised would be addressed.

Walwyn also said that the BVI does not intend to ‘impose’ on St Lucia for long, adding that the prisoners will return to the BVI once repairs at Her Majesty’s Prison are completed.

“We are trying to get the prison back in order as quickly as possible. Just before the hurricane, we had some contracts signed to have the roof repaired there. We are going to reactivate those in a little while. It should have happened this week. Perhaps it may happen next week and we’ll try our best to have those situations sorted out.”

Shortly after hurricane Irma battered the British Overseas territory, Prime Minister Allen Chastanet of St Lucia agreed to temporarily house prisoners from the BVI.