On Saturday, March 1, 2014, Warren Cassell following his 16-month incarceration showed up, as he has on most Saturdays since July last year, to visit inmates at Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP). Cassell has informed that he was told upon arrival that he was banned from making any visits to the prison or bringing anything for inmates as other visitors are allowed.
Cassell is certain that the action which he has challenged, is a direct result of the Application for Judicial Review he has filed against the named prison officers in Acting Superintendent Mr. Theodore Woodley, Acting Deputy Superintendent Rupert Harris, Senior Officers Vaughn Ryan, Jason Bradford and Senior Officer Oswald West. (See details of this action at: http://www.themontserratreporter.com/the-first-lawsuit-filed-against-hm-prison-in-montserrat/)
In that action Cassell seeks to have the court rule on his 35 claims including the assessment and payment of damages to Mr. Cassell for breach of his rights, constitutional and/or otherwise during his stay in prison. He claims he was subjected to numerous atrocities carried out by prison officers during his prison spell.
Immediately after being banned from the prison doors, Cassell, believing this action to be further violation of his rights, and abuse by the Superintendent of his powers. Immediately wrote to Miss Esco Henry, Hon. Attorney General, Montserrat, and also to his Excellency the Governor, Adrian Davis, seeking to have his visitation rights restored.
“I am looking forward to communication from you or the prison,” Cassell wrote, “informing me that: I can attend the prison to speak with Steve Molyneaux, Orin Evans and Terrance Charles with a view to helping them observe their constitutional right to seek redress in the High Court; and, that I am permitted to visit inmates in the prison as usual on Saturdays.”
Miss Henry responded to that letter advising: “…the Attorney General does not exercise any statutory or other legal authority over management of Her Majesty’s Prison.” She advised that, “In the circumstances, I am unable to provide you with a commitment or promise,” for what Cassell was seeking.
The Governor on the other hand did not respond but reacted after he received an enquiry on the issue. “The original refusal to allow you to visit inmates last Saturday was an error and has now been corrected. You will be allowed to visit inmates in accordance with normal prison rules,” he wrote.
