UK to build $4.5 billion prison in Jamaica – BBC report

In a report from the BBC on Tuesday, Prime Minister David Cameron announced the deal as he started his Jamaica visit.

“The project has been agreed to break the deadlock in negotiations over a prisoner transfer deal between the two countries,” the BBC reported. “More than 600 Jamaican nationals are in UK jails but cannot be deported because of Jamaica’s poor prison conditions.”

According to the BBC’s publication, officials say the foreign aid-funded deal could save taxpayers £10m a year when transfers begin in 2020.

“More than 300 existing offenders are expected to be sent back under the Jamaica prison scheme, which covers those sentenced to at least four years who have 18 months or more left to serve in custody,” the BBC said.

Currently they cannot be sent to Jamaica because of fears that jail conditions in the country would allow a successful challenge under human rights law.

Statistics from the UK have indicated that Jamaica ranks as the third highest in the list of foreign countries with nationals serving prison sentences in the UK.

Almost 70 per cent of the Jamaicans in prison in Britain are serving sentences for violence and drug offences.

The UK is contributing about 40 per cent of the cost of building the planned jail, which would hold 1,500 people.

British Prime Minister David Cameron arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston around 4pm on Tuesday.

Cameron, who was accompanied by Justine Greening, from the Department for International Development – was greeted by Chief of Defence Staff Major General Antony Anderson, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and British High Commissioner to Jamaica David Fitton.

Prime Minister Cameron, as well as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, is on a one-day official visit to the island where he is expected to address a joint sitting of the houses of Parliament on Wednesday.