The meeting was to “consider and review the events at Her Majesty’s Prison, which occurred over the weekend, 29-30 May 2021,” a press release said.

NSC Decision

The press release said after considering the matters at hand, “the NSC later issued a decision, which instructed that immediate steps be taken to enhance the supervision of prisoners at Her Majesty’s Prison and more importantly, that an internal inquiry be launched into the events on the weekend.”

It added: “Council in its deliberations further instructed that the two senior officers, who were on duty during the occurrence of events, be placed on administrative leave, pending further investigation.”

Internal Review

Furthermore, the NSC ordered that “a wider external review of security arrangements at Her Majesty’s Prison should be commissioned and of importance, noted that the current investigation into the wounding and murder at the prison is under the active investigation of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force’s Major Incident Team.”

The NSC then offered their condolences to the family of the deceased.

The NSC comprises the Governor, as Chairman and members, including the Premier; one other Minister, who is the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Agriculture and Fisheries; the Attorney General (ex-officio) and the Commissioner of Police (ex-officio).

Her Majesty's Prison inmate Nickail Chambers, 29, was fatally stabbed on May 30, 2021.