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Condemned prisoners on hunger strike

Jun 26, 2009 News

A group of condemned prisoners at the Camp Street Prison has reportedly gone on a hunger strike to protest the restriction of certain items that form part of their diet.
The inmates who are housed on the Number 3 Landing have been refusing their meals since Wednesday, and are calling for the intervention of the Minister of Home Affairs.
According to the inmates, during their period of incarceration, they have developed various medical conditions and doctors have recommended certain specific diets.
This was adhered to by prison authorities up to recently when a new head of the facility’s medical department took over.
This newspaper understands that in some cases it was recommended that the prisoners, most of whom are diabetic, be given bread instead of rice to eat, twice daily.
However they are claiming that prison authorities are now insisting that they eat rice only.
“The President didn’t execute we, but like dem in de prison want do it,” one inmate said. The condemned inmates are claiming that in addition to the restriction of their dietary needs, prison authorities are refusing to give them their prescribed medication, although they have it in stock.
They are also allegedly being denied their mandatory hospital visits.
“I haven’t eaten since yesterday (Wednesday). I refuse to eat,” another condemned prisoner told this newspaper.
They claimed that when they complain to the Officer-in-Charge, nothing is done.
The inmates also stated that the Director of Prisons would sometimes intervene, but a few days after his intervention, the situation returns to the status quo.
“If this (hunger strike) does not work, we will decide what other course of action to take,” an inmate said.
Contacted yesterday, Director of Prisons Dale Erskine promised to look into the matter.
Previously, there were reports that inmates at the Georgetown Prison were brutalized by officers.
On one occasion, this led to a mini-riot at the facility and inmates fear that this could recur if their concerns are not addressed.
Should this occur, there could potentially be devastating consequences at the overcrowded facility, which houses several high-profile criminals.

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