After more than two and a half centuries of operation, one of the Caribbean’s oldest correctional facilities is drawing to a close, as senior correctional officials frame the decommissioning of the Port of Spain Prison as a critical, long-overdue step toward building a 21st-century penal system for Trinidad and Tobago.
Acting Commissioner of Prisons Elvin Scanterbury recently laid out the official rationale for the historic transition in comments to local outlet the Express, explaining that the aging Frederick Street facility can no longer meet the evolving security, rehabilitation and operational standards required of modern correctional institutions. For generations, the prison has stood as a cornerstone of Trinidad and Tobago’s penal history, opening its doors originally in 1757 and serving as a maximum-security site for remanded, convicted, and condemned inmates through centuries of social and political change. But its age has brought intractable challenges: in recent years, courts have ruled against the state over inhumane conditions at the facility, leading to millions of dollars in taxpayer compensation awarded to inmates for violations of their constitutional rights.
The closure, first announced to Parliament in September 2025 by Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander as part of a broader government plan to modernize the national prison system, is far more than a simple symbolic shift. Scanterbury emphasized that the transition will deliver tangible improvements for both incarcerated people and correctional staff, moving both groups out of a crumbling, outdated infrastructure into purpose-built spaces that align with contemporary correctional best practices.
“Moving away from this facility gives us an opportunity to create environments better suited to the security, rehabilitation, and general management of the people in our care, while also delivering far better working conditions for our officers,” Scanterbury told the Express. He framed the decommissioning as a key milestone in the ongoing evolution of the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service, noting that the institution must adapt to modern standards to serve the country effectively.
To avoid disruption to daily correctional operations and mitigate security risks during the transition, the relocation of inmates is being carried out as a carefully planned, phased exercise. Scanterbury confirmed that extensive pre-planning and inter-agency coordination have already been completed, with comprehensive risk assessments carried out, operational requirements mapped out, and targeted strategies implemented to keep disruptions to a minimum throughout the process. This staged approach allows the Prison Service to address logistical and security challenges of the relocation while continuing to fulfill its core day-to-day duties across the country’s other correctional facilities.
While the facility’s operational life is coming to an end, Scanterbury stressed that its unique place in Trinidad and Tobago’s national and correctional history should not be forgotten. He called for the site’s historical contributions to be formally preserved and documented, though he stopped short of proposing a specific future use for the prime centrally located property. Given its position in the heart of Port of Spain and deep historical roots, the future of the site is expected to become a major topic of public discussion once the decommissioning process is fully completed.
Scanterbury also acknowledged that the transition will bring significant change for more than just the inmate population. Long-serving correctional officers who have spent years working at the historic facility will need support to adjust to their new placements and work environments, as the service closes this 268-year chapter of its history.
In summing up the historic move, Scanterbury noted that while the Port of Spain Prison has served the nation faithfully for generations, the demands of a modern correctional system leave no alternative to the transition. “We have to continue evolving as a Prison Service, and this is part of that process,” he said.