Wade moves on

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Lieutenant-Colonel Eugene Philip of the Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (ABDF) has been appointed the new Superintendent of Prisons, thereby ending the four-year stint of former prison boss Albert Wade.

The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda confirmed on Thursday that it had approved ending the secondment of Wade who will from February 1st return to the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda (RPFAB) to take up his substantive role as Deputy Commissioner for Operations.

As a form of continuity, Lt. Col Philip, who has been a member of the Prison Visiting Committee over the past three years, will be introduced to the staff and inmates at Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) today.

 Wade’s departure from the prison came a year after he made an initial request to the government that his secondment be terminated to clear the way for his return to the RPFAB.

While serving as Superintendent of Prisons, Wade was simultaneously promoted to act as Deputy Commissioner of Police, following the suspension last year of Commissioner Wendell Robinson over allegations of misconduct. The government delayed the process after officers and inmates at the prison objected to his departure.

Meanwhile, Cabinet spokesman, Information Minister Melford Nicholas, has assured the public that there is no conflict surrounding the approval of ending Wade’s secondment.

The minister said that as superintendent of the penal institution, Wade brought control and order to Her Majesty’s Prison in an exemplary manner and the government highly commends his efforts.

“There is no issue with the conduct or the work of Mr. Wade. It is a clear case that he has done what he is required to do and so he is going to assume his role as a senior officer in the police force,” Nicholas said.

He also stated that the new prison boss will be building on the accomplishments that already exist at the country’s lone penal institution.

“There is now a process that is in train to really move towards a new prison facility and so clearly, Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Philip will be handed that task of the build out and the transition. But we would expect a continuation of the management process that has been well established and well laid down,” Nicholas said.

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