Was there a hidden hand in the unrest at the Camp Street Prison?

Last Updated on Tuesday, 17 May 2016, 17:26 by Denis Chabrol

As the dust settles after several glaring testimonies from prisoners and law enforcement at the Commission of Inquiry into the Camp Street Prison unrest, other questions are now being raised.

Questions are being raised about whether there was some sort of “hidden hand” in the unrest and whether there was an agenda.

The Prison unrest left 17 inmates dead with others injured and lasted for close to 72 hours.

Despite several reasons being put forward for the prisoners resisiting in such manner, most if not all, have been dismissed.

On Monday Former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee was questioned whether he believes there was another side to the unrest but declined to comment since it would be “highly speculative.”

“Well I would not want to enter into a realm of speculation…that would be a highly speculative story. A hidden hand by whom? When? To what end,” the politician questioned.

The then People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) administration of which Rohee was a member had accused the then opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and other activists of being responsible for the violent escape of five prisoners from the Georgetown Prison and the subsequent crime spree by heavily armed gangs who had been based in Buxton.

At the weekend searches were conducted at the prison and a massive quantity of contraband including several improvised weapons were removed from the Prison.

Prison Attorney Selwyn Pieters recently revealed that officials seized 44 cellphones, more than 150 improvised weapons, a quantity of scissors, marijuana, kitchen knives and even tattoo machines, among other illegal items.

He said that “A lot of weapon, knives, scissors etc may have been obtained on March 04, 2016. Alternatively some may have been missed during the search.”

Cigarette lighters and improvised weapons were the most items found. That was followed closely by marijuana.