Luisa Calderon

This contemporary print, shows the 14 year old Luisa Calderon being tortured under the orders of Thomas Picton. She was purported (but never proved) to be an accomplice in a murky robbery. She was arrested and clasped in irons for eight months. Whilst a prisoner, Governor Picton gave a written order to allow her torture using the technique he used to punish disobedient soldiers; Picketing. This consisted of hoisting the victim by their arms so that they might balance their bodyweight on a small stake. It was excruciating over any period of time. Luisa was thought to have undergone two sessions, the first lasing 55 minutes and the second 22 minutes. She never confessed and feigned total ignorance to the location of the stolen money.

Trinidad and Tobago