A new prison facility in Antigua and Barbuda could cost between EC$50 million and EC$60 million, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said Saturday on the Browne and Browne Show on Pointe FM.

Browne made the disclosure as he clarified reports that the government intended to spend EC$5 million on a new prison.

He said EC$5 million would not be enough to construct an entirely new prison and explained that the government’s immediate priority is replacing a structurally unsafe wing at His Majesty’s Prison.

“The building of a proper jail will probably run, I’d say, at least maybe $50 million, $60 million,” Browne said.

The prime minister said prison authorities had warned the government that a wing accommodating about 150 inmates is structurally unsound and could collapse.

He described the situation as urgent, warning that the government could face a disaster if the structure failed while prisoners were inside.

“The last thing we want is that facility to collapse and prisoners to get hurt or die, for that matter,” Browne said.

He said the affected section is effectively an abandoned building that is still being used to house inmates because of the lack of alternative accommodation.

Browne noted that the prison dates to 1735 and has not been properly maintained over the years.

He said the government must construct replacement accommodation as quickly as possible to protect the lives of inmates and prison staff.

The proposed new section is expected to accommodate approximately 150 prisoners. Browne did not provide a final cost, construction schedule or confirmation that a design had been selected.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: New Prison Facility Could Cost EC$50 Million to EC$60 Million.