The Government is now trying to find the money to retrofit the South Camp Road Rehabilitation Centre which is slated to be the new home of Jamaica's female prisoners.

Weeks after a Sunday Gleaner exclusive report that the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has been given until December to move the women that were being held at the Fort Augusta Adult Correction Centre, the confirmation came last week.

The DCS and its parent agency - the Ministry of National Security - announced that the South Camp Road Rehabilitation Centre, in Kingston, is to be renovated at a cost of $65 million.

Far from ready

The South Camp Road facility previously housed male inmates, but is being remodelled to accommodate the inmates from Fort Augusta.

However, the facility is far from ready. Lieutenant Colonel Sean Prendergast, commissioner of corrections, told our news team that the bulk of the work is now being done on securing the money to remodel the facility.

"Right now we are costing and securing the funds to get it done," said Prendergast.

According to the DCS, approximately seven male inmates are still being housed at the South Road facility but that will change by the time the rehab centre is ready to house the women.

"The only men who will be there at that time will be the staff members," pledged Prendergast.

The prison boss also revealed that the name of the facility would be changed when the 250 inmates, including 96 female juveniles, take up residence. But he could not say what would be the new name.

tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com