Honduras to launch tender to build offshore penal colony at end-August

A tender to build a prison complex on the Cisne Islands in the Caribbean Sea will be published by the Honduran government in a matter of weeks, authorities announced. 

“The first stage prepared by President [Xiomara] Castro foresees 2,000 inmates. A plan will be carried out with engineers of the joint chiefs of staff, and in a month and a half we will begin the tender process, following the State’s procurement law,” defense minister José Manuel Zelaya was quoted as saying by daily La Prensa.

He underlined that the prison will house dangerous inmates and leaders of organized criminal gangs that will fulfill their sentences in total isolation, with no rights to visits. 

“We want to prevent communication and we would like them to permanently have no contact with the general population and their families, who have sometimes broken the law by introducing items [into prisons],” added Zelaya. 

The minister also stated that the prisoners would grow their own food “in a place where there's nothing but iguanas,” and will have no privileges.

Analysts believe that the construction of this penal colony could cost as much as US$800mn but no official figures have yet been mentioned. 

The political opposition has criticized the plan due to the nature of the contract awarding process, while environmentalists have complained about possible environmental damage to the islands' pristine habitats, since they are a protected marine area.