CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) — The St Lucia government says nine of the 29 inmates, who arrived from the British Virgin Islands (BVI) last year, following the passage of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, are to be returned to the British Overseas Territory by this weekend.

The Ministry of Justice said that “arrangements are advanced” to facilitate the transfer of the nine prisoners, who were housed at the Bordelais Correctional Facility, located near the town of Dennery.

The statement said that following the passage of the storms, more than 100 prisoners had been recaptured or turned themselves in after escaping from the severely damaged Balsam Gut Prison and that the St Lucia government had lent its support to the BVI “in the area of national security over the past several months”.

It said that the BVI had indicated that the prisoners would be away “until such time as repair work to improve security at the prison had been completed, and the governor determines that the conditions in the prison are such that further escape and disturbance at the prison can be prevented, and the life and safety of other prisoners and the community at large can be assured”.

The statement gave no details on the future of the other 20 inmates from the BVI.