While nobody was watching, people were busy at the high security prison in Phoenix this week-end. Orders came from the prison headquarters and they were non-negotiable; get rid of all evidence that renovation works were taking place at the prison when the fights broke between two groups of detainees last Thursday.

And since one doesn?t quarrel with orders coming from high above, the work was done. Forklifts, ladders and whatever else builders need to do their job ? and that were lying about while the prison reopened so that some problem detainees could be transferred there ? simply disappeared. Almost like they had never been there.

The plan is a clever one really ? one needs to give credit where credit is due ? and in this instance credit is due to the Commissioner of prisons (CP).

Reports that the prison in Phoenix was not ready to be reopened have ? or so we hear ? greatly embarrassed the CP. Routine fights between detainees, the prison authorities can justify simply, because well, in a prison, they are to be expected. And nobody in their right mind would blame the prison authorities in such instances.

The only way this could happen is if the authorities have been shown to be reckless; reopening a high security prison when building works are still going on and filling that prison with violent prisoners is nothing short of recklessness.

Irresponsibility is another word for recklessness.

But if one can show the police ? a police inquiry is on at the moment concerning last Thursday?s bloody incidents ? that prisoners managed to escape from their yards and break into another and fought ? which is not unnatural in a prison ? and that this had absolutely nothing to do with any recklessness on the part of those who make decisions in Beau-Bassin, then at least some damage control will have been done.

For sure, disciplinary actions will probably have to be taken but at least they will only concern junior staff. After all, they are ideal escape goats, aren?t they?

No, I don?t agree but that?s the logic that?s prevailing at the prison headquarters at the moment.

The strategy is the same as when the Bastille was ordered to shut down last year, due to allegations of torture. After the order came from the prime minister?s office (PMO), the CP wrote a letter to the PMO in which he claimed he knew nothing of the practices prevailing in Phoenix. So, junior staff (junior in terms of rank but they are staff with a lot of experience) were interdicted while the CP merrily carried on with the overseeing of the building of temples in the central prison. And the purchase of statues for the temples, from India.

But the ?strategy? you see, is not foolproof. It is making prison officers feel they are being taken for a ride.

Oh and by the way, all the evidence is not gone despite the fact that the CP?s orders were carried out.

That might be good to know.