BARBDOSs is truly a remarkable country. Eight years after the opening of the prison at Dodds, people are still imputing various costs – $100 million, $200 million, $700 million, $900 million, and so on – to the building of the prison.
Such costs are always seen as excessive and contributing to the present economic woes of Barbados.
If the cash price of a house is $200 000, what is the final price of the same house purchased with a 30-year mortgage? Couldn’t the same analysis be applied to the prison? Didn’t Glendairy prison last for over 100 years? Shouldn’t the true or real cost of the prison be evaluated in relation to its projected lifetime?
I am requesting Jeremy Stephens and the Barbados Economics Society, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados, Dr Clyde Mascoll and this newspaper to provide and publish a thorough analysis of the cost of the prison – to be evaluated in relation to its projected lifespan?
I am requesting Mr Stephens and the Barbados Economics Society so that Barbadians can decide whether they got a good or bad deal.
I have consistently argued that there would have been no need for a new prison if Barbados had a cost-effective justice system which functioned efficiently and effectively at the administrative level, executed the 168 murderers in prison, provided unlimited hours – instead of the ridiculous 240 of community service for criminals so that they could pay in cash or community service for their crimes instead of being imprisoned.
– NICHOLAS HEADLEY
