Gov’t plans to replace Prisons with luxury resort, exhibition hall, and housing — 500-acre Tamana Prison Campus to be built

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has unveiled sweeping redevelopment plans that would see the country’s major prison facilities transformed into modern public and private ventures — including a five-star resort on Carrera Island, an exhibition and arts centre at the Port of Spain Prison site, and a housing development at the Golden Grove Prison lands.

The existing prison system would be consolidated into a 500-acre Tamana Prison Campus, designed to house up to 6,000 inmates and integrate rehabilitation, education, and agricultural programs. The new facility, in Tamana, is projected to save the State approximately $60 million annually and modernize the country’s correctional approach.

Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John detailed the plans during the launch of the government’s Revitalisation Blueprint on November 6, which was presented to private sector leaders and diplomats at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s.

According to the TT Global Hub, the Tamana complex will be a “modern, purpose-built facility” focused on education, reform, and reintegration rather than punishment.

“This development reflects our government’s commitment to creating a fairer, more compassionate society — one that believes in second chances and the power of structured opportunity,” the ministry stated.

Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander added that the new campus will allow authorities to separate inmates by the severity of their offences. “A man charged for maintenance or a small thing won’t be housed near hardened criminals. It’s a whole structural change,” he said.

Under the new vision, the Port of Spain Prison, built in 1812, will be replaced by a state-of-the-art exhibition and event centre dedicated to the arts — to be named “Dem Boyz Jail”, inspired by lyrics from the late calypsonian Mighty Shadow. The centre will feature classrooms and training spaces for artists and cultural workshops.

Meanwhile, Carrera Island, home to the country’s oldest functioning prison, is being proposed as the site for a 75-room luxury resort, while the Golden Grove Prison lands in Arouca could be redeveloped into a mixed residential community with high-rise and single-family units.

In addition to the prison overhaul, the government also outlined plans for a National Security Complex in Mt Hope, serving as a central hub for national security coordination and international intelligence integration. A Southwest Security Hub in Cedros is also being proposed to house the Coast Guard, Customs, and Immigration, alongside upgrades to Staubles Bay and Teteron Barracks.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar described the initiative as part of a bold modernization drive: “Every frontier will be fortified. Every entry point will be equipped. This is not just a plan — it’s a national imperative.” The blueprint marks one of the country’s most ambitious redevelopment and security reform projects to date, combining infrastructure renewal, prison reform, and tourism-driven investment under a unified national vision.