The latest reports about guns and ammunition missing from the Richmond Hill Prison and that Prison Officers are the suspected culprits is more than cause for concern and alarm in the country.

The Ministry of National Security with its two Ministers, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell and former Army Chief, Major Einstein Louison should leave no stone unturned in getting at the bottom of this matter.

The first bit of information that came out from inside the prison was that only one M-16 rifle and 20 rounds of ammunition were missing from the armoury. However, a more detailed investigation by members of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) has so far discovered that not one but eleven guns have disappeared.

The investigation is continuing and who knows that the CID team might also find out from behind the walls of the Richmond Hill prison. The probe could be a long drawn out one for the police since no one knows for sure whether the guns were removed prior to or after the passage of Hurricane Ivan in September 2004.

This is nothing but slackness and dereliction of duties on the part of those running the prison. It is no secret that the prison was almost empty after the passage of Ivan since most prison officers and inmates had fled from the compound in order to protect themselves from the onslaught of the killer hurricane.

What kind of inventory was done by those in charge of running our prison in the aftermath of the hurricane? If an inventory was done and guns were missing then surely that would have been discovered several months ago and not just a few weeks ago.

The CID team of investigators might also be hampered in their investigations by the lack of manpower. It might be prudent for the two Ministers of National Security, Dr. Mitchell and Sen. Louison to impress upon the Commissioner of Police to call back from on holidays those members of the CID who are capable of helping to get at the bottom of the missing guns and ammunition at the Richmond Hill prison.

No effort should be spared in apprehending the wrongdoers. Fears have been expressed before about prison officers instead of helping to rehabilitate inmates for a better life on their return to society, often times being the biggest law breakers in the country.

Some have been suspected of peddling in drugs, supplying prisoners with drugs, facilitating the jailbreak by some inmates, and even supplying them with cell phones to keep in contact with the outside world.

GRENADA TODAY is fearful that the missing guns might have already reached into the wrong hands and might later come back to haunt us. The Christmas season is not very far off and the norm has been an increase in criminal activities in the country as the delinquent elements in the society "hussle" for easy money and to lay their hands on stolen goods as they ply their illegal trade.

The fact that Prison Officers themselves are suspected for removing the guns and ammunition from inside the prison raises serious questions about the kinds of people hired for the institution.

Not only that, the country might need to revisit the process and procedures used for recruiting men and women to serve in such a sensitive place in Grenada. This has become clear in light of a letter sent to our News Desk by former Commissioner of Prisons, Winston Courtney about affairs, which an Imani "student" sent to work at the prison, was having with an inmate... an officer at the Richmond Hill prison.

It is no secret that the Imani programme is political in nature and scope despite denials from the ruling New National Party (NNP) government of Prime Minister Mitchell. Most of the persons selected to serve in the programme are either the children of frontline political hacks of the party or those who have good connections with members of the government.

This paper has no reason to doubt the allegation made by Mr. Courtney since we have the greatest respect for him as a patriotic son of the soil. How was this Imani recruited for a placement in such a sensitive place? Did somebody just make a phone call? Were proper checks done to ensure that the selected person was a worthy candidate for the placement?

Heads should be made to roll at the Richmond Hill Prison if the system is found out to be badly lacking and wanting in terms of safeguarding the guns and ammunition in the institution. This country could pay a serious price if one of these stolen guns was used on a visitor coming to this country for the ICC Cricket worlds Cup in 2007.

The international media will have a field day and all the millions spent in preparation for this major event will go down the drain in the twinkle of an eye.