ON DECEMBER 19th, as the small island state of St Kitts and Nevis prepared to celebrate Christmas and the annual Carnival, bells rang out from the prison in the heart of the capital, Basseterre.

• 2008年12月19日，正当小岛国圣基茨和尼维斯准备庆祝圣诞节与年度狂欢节之际，首都巴斯特尔中心地带的监狱却传来阵阵钟声。