Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis is calling for the immediate resignation of both national security ministers after two prisoners managed to escape from the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH).

Dr. Minnis said both National Security Minister Dr. Bernard Nottage and State Minister for National Security Keith Bell should resign from their posts in the wake of this recent escape from PMH.

Last week, a murder suspect, who was being treated for stab wounds, managed to escape.

Prior to that, a prisoner, who was also being treated at the hospital, escaped.

Free National Movement (FNM) Leader chided the two men for “showing they are clueless in performing a basic duty of the state.”

It is absolutely essential, he said, that all criminals are properly guarded and secured at all times.

PMH officials, meantime, said despite two escapes from the institution in the past month patient and staff safety remain a high priority.

In the wake of the latest prison escape from PMH, officials there recently released a statement assuring the public that they have an effective safety system in place.

“Management wishes to assure its patients and the public that patient and staff safety remains a high priority and we have the effective strategic measures to ensure that security at the facility is maintained,” the statement said.

On Thursday 17-year-old murder suspect Michael Defrend escaped police custody at about 3:15 a.m. from the Male Surgical II Ward at PMH.

Defrend was admitted to hospital last Tuesday for multiple stab wounds and was listed in stable condition.

He was being guarded by two police officers.

On June 2 PMH was placed on lockdown after prisoner Reginald Chase escaped.

The prisoner asked the officer go to the bathroom, during that time he removed his handcuffs, disarmed the officer and shot him in the neck.

The FNM is further calling for an immediate independent investigation into all the circumstances surrounding all the recent escapes from PMH.