Nine of the 21 inmates who were temporarily transferred to St. Lucia after Hurricane Irma returned to the territory on Thursday, Education and Culture Minister Myron Walwyn confirmed.
The group will continue serving their sentences at Her Majesty’s Prison after the National Security Council approved their transition back to the Virgin Islands, according to a press release from Mr. Walwyn and Acting Governor David Archer.
Neither official said why only some of the prisoners were returning now, or when exactly the rest will follow – other than to say the remaining individuals will return “soon.”
Asked for further information about the decision, Mr. Walwyn declined to comment.
The government statement also did not include the names of the inmates who have already returned.
“We wish to sincerely thank the government of St. Lucia and the Bordelais Correctional Facility for their assistance and cooperation during this time,” the statement read, adding that the VI government thanks the inmates’ families for their patience.
“The prison authorities will be in direct contact with the next of kin of all concerned to apprise them of the relocation of their relatives.”