BY VINAYA SAKSENA

CENTRAL FALLS — U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) has called for a major change in the running of the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility following the release of information gleaned from internal investigations into an immigration detainee’s death last year by conducted by both the facility and the federal immigration agency that brought the detainee there.

In a statement released last week, Kennedy criticized the facility’s handlers for practices that allegedly occurred at the facility during Ng’s stay last year, calling the findings of the investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “beyond troubling.” Kennedy went on to say that Ng’s death from advanced-stage cancer shortly after his stay at the Wyatt began had left the City of Central Falls- which has been receiving impact fees from the facility- facing the prospect of drastically decreased revenues, dealing a potentially devastating blow to the city’s already troubled finances.
“It is unconscionable that a detained individual would be denied basic medical care under the supervision of a detention facility, let alone be subject to violations of the established use of force policies as detailed in the report,” Kennedy said.
“Wyatt Detention Facility’s poor oversight and negligent personnel management have not only put the lives of hundreds of inmates at risk, they have jeopardized the economic stability of Central Falls. The real tragedy in this situation is that the events and circumstances surrounding Mr. Ng’s mistreatment were all very easily avoidable had prison personnel followed established protocol.”
The RDW Group’s Dante Bellini, a spokesman for the Wyatt, expressed dismay at Kennedy’s statement, noting that the facility had long had a reputation for operating at high professional standards. He added that facility officials hoped to discuss the matter with Kennedy further.
“We look forward to meeting with the Congressman at his earliest convenience; addressing his concerns and setting the record straight — especially with respect to both the 15 year operational integrity of the facility and the consistently superior performance reviews by both ICE and the ACA (American Correctional Association),” Bellini said in a written statement.
“The Wyatt Detention Facility should not be defined by this one unfortunate incident — and any discussion needs to include the fact that the facility has detained over 16000 people in 15 years without any significant problems.”
Kennedy called for the replacement of the company overseeing the facility’s management. The facility’s contract management is handled by Anthony Ventetuolo Jr.
of AVCORR Consultants. Bellini said, however, that no “management changes” were planned as of press time.
Central Falls Mayor Charles Moreau, who previously said he had been in regular contact with Kennedy and U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse regarding ICE’s decision to remove all of its detainees from the Wyatt late last year, could not be reached for comment in time for this article. Kennedy went on to say that he hoped to put an end to mistreatment of prisoners in facilities that house immigration detainees, out of respect for basic human rights, and added that he intended to seek an investigation into such mistreatment at other prisons across the country.