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CELLS meant for two packed with seven. Rats the size of cats. A crumbling colonial-era prison where hundreds of inmates wait, sometimes for years, for their day in court.

That’s how stakeholders described the Port of Spain Prison, described to Newsday as outdated, overcrowded, and inhumane. With its closure officially announced, many are breathing a sigh of relief.

On September 4, National Security Minister Roger Alexander confirmed the prison would be decommissioned. On September 5, Newsday spoke with several stakeholders who unanimously welcomed the decision while also calling for the site’s re-purposing in a way that honours its complex legacy.