POINTE BLANCHE--Democratic Party (DP) Member of Parliament (MP) Viren Kotai questioned why the ankle bracelet policy put in place by former Justice Minister Anna Richardson is not being used to free up prison space for violent offenders.
He also raised concerns about men being housed in the women’s ward at the Pointe Blanche Prison and asked whether a personal issue involving the Prosecutor’s Office, the Department of Justice or another authority is behind Theo Heyliger’s continued imprisonment as Heyliger is occupying prison space that could instead be used for violent criminals.
Kotai raised the issue during the continuation of the draft 2026 budget debate on Wednesday. He questioned who ultimately controls decisions at the prison and why information on the prison population and violent offenders is not readily available.
“There are men in the women’s ward. How are we not making use of the ankle bracelet policy that was put in place by former Minister Anna Richardson?” Kotai asked.
He also questioned whether the Prosecutor’s Office is the sole authority controlling what happens at the prison. “Because whenever I ask for stats… there is never any data available,” he said.
Kotai argued that ankle monitoring could potentially be used for some non-violent offenders to create space for people convicted of violent crimes. “We have white-collar criminals O’Neil Arrindell, Frans Richardson and Theo Heyliger who could have been sitting on ankle monitors to free some space on violent criminals,” Kotai said.
He said the situation is particularly difficult for victims who see perpetrators out of prison while they continue to deal with the consequences of the crimes committed against them.
“How do you think persons feel when they are feeling hunted, the perpetrators are caught and the victim still sees the perpetrators free?” Kotai asked.
Kotai also questioned whether the prison is currently full and how many people are waiting to serve their sentences at Point Blanche prison. He specifically referred to O’Neil Arrindell, saying that Arrindell submitted his petition for early release in May.
Kotai also addressed what he described as an unfortunate perception surrounding the handling of the situation and questioned whether there is a personal issue involving the Prosecutor’s Office, the Department of Justice or another authority concerning Theo Heyliger. He argued that Heyliger is one of the people taking up space in the prison that could instead be used for violent criminals. “Because he is one of the many taking up space at the prison where an actual violent criminal can fill the void,” Kotai said.
