UNODC Chief Visits Seychelles' Pirate Prisoners

Head of UNODC visits Montagne Posée Prison where Pirates are held

The Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Mr. Yury Fedotov visited the Montagne Posée Prison this morning. He was accompanied by the Minister for Home Affairs and Transport, Mr. Joel Morgan, the Regional Representative for UNODC, Ms. Loide Lungameni,  the Regional Coordinator for UNODC, Mr. Alan Cole and the UNODC Programme Management Officer, Mr. Sergey Peresada.

They were welcomed by the Deputy Superintendent of Prison, Mr. Will Thurbin. The delegates were briefed on the Seychelles prison service and its strategic plans. They were shown an area where paintings, handmade crafts and other products are made by the prisoners themselves.

During the tour, they were briefed on the overall prison improvement projects undertaken by the Government of Seychelles with the assistance of UNODC. It was also an opportunity for Mr. Fedotov to talk to the Somali convicts being presently detained at the prison whereby they engaged in an open discussion.

“We are deeply appreciative for the assistance given by the UNODC to improve the Montagne Posée prison and for their continued support to Seychelles in its fight against piracy. With the UNODC construction of new prisons in Somalia, we will be able to transfer more convicted pirates and this will ease the burden on our prison resources,"said Minister Morgan.

Mr. Fedotov thanked Minister Morgan for organising the visit which helped him to gain a better understanding of the prison facilities and other  aspects of incarceration which may need further development.

---

Source: OCEANUSLive.org

Originally written by the Seychelles Ministry of Home Affairs and Transport And Ministry of Foreign Affairs