September 16, 1997 - Two members of the seven member delegation to carry out inquiries into the recent disturbance at the island's prison are now in St. Lucia.

Executive Director of the Penal Reform Caribbean/Latin America office in Puerto Rico, Wendy Singh and Coordinator of Caribbean Rights Sheila Stuart arrived on island last week Friday September 12, 1997, and met with the local press to discuss their three day mission here.

The mission will examine the current physical conditions and the organizational structure, including staff-inmate relations at the Castries prison. Recommendations on reform measures will consider alternatives to custodial punishment and rehabilitation of special categories of prisoners, among them drug addicts, juveniles and first offenders, women and those inmates suffering from terminal illness. Skills training projects as part of a general rehabilitation programme will also be examined.

The fact finding team's programme will include visits to the Castries prison and two juvenile correctional institutions, meetings with Judges and Magistrates, the Chief Justice, Attorney General, the Commissioner of Police and Social Workers.