Through the eyes of a death row inmate… 19 Christmases behind bars…will it ever end?

Dec 25, 2011 News

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Pull quote: “On Christmas morning waking up in prison is nothing easy, the first thing that comes to your mind is family and friends. The next thing is the joy you are missing out on when you are behind these four walls. To be punishing on death row and in prison so long is worse than death.”  – Hafeez Hussain.    

By Rabindra Rooplall
Imagine waking up on a beautiful morning such as this one, facing four close walls and a steel door, and awaiting permission to have a bath and return to that stifling enclosure for the entire day.
This has become an annual routine of Hafeez Hussain who is an inmate on death row, and has spent 19 Christmases behind bars.
As thousands of people wake up to family and relatives on Christmas Day to exchange good wishes, gifts and a sumptuous meal, there are many who would have to endure not having any family or friendly contact for the season and beyond.
In a letter exchange with the inmate, Hussain describes himself as someone who only wants justice in an unjust world.
He said many of his days are passed reading and hoping for a better day, especially when the year comes to an end.
In describing his feeling at this time of the year, the death row inmate says that Christmas is just another day of isolation, with surprisingly, a more palatable meal compared to any other day.

Hussain explained that out of 24 hours daily, there is one hour given to them to walk along the corridor called the “catwalk.” He said that during that time he would have to bathe, empty his eating utensils and clean out his cell and sanitary bowl.
In spite of this almost maddening routine, Hussain insists that he has never lost hope with each year and every Christmas that passes, he says that he always looks forward to spending the next holiday with his family as a free man.
The inmate said his first Christmas behind prison walls was filled with emotional turmoil, and as they (the years) “piled up” it became even more heart rending.
Hussain, who was a cash crop/rice farmer and a businessman, also had a grocery and liquor restaurant. He has been a prisoner since 1993, and had been convicted with the offence of robbery/murder. He has lost all of his appeals, and is seeking a judicial review or a pardon from the President.
The 47-year-old father of three, who described himself as a hard worker, said he had a committed family life, where he worked tirelessly to secure a solid future.
“I have two daughters, 25 and 24, and my son is 20 years old. I also have three grandchildren that I have never seen,” Hussain lamented.
After his incarceration, the inmate grieved that he could not have been able to give his family the life they deserved.
“On one occasion I had to sell two and a half acres of land to support my children’s education, they are all secondary school teachers…my sister also helped in supporting my children.”
The death row prisoner related that he had on many occasion written letters to his children advising them to develop their lives while making a meaningful contribution to society.
At Christmastime he reminisces on what his life could have been like, “if I had had a fair trial”, and the many joys of freedom which are taken for granted by many in society.
“After all this time, there is no prerogative board of mercy or an ombudsman or any impartial judicial body in which I can ask for them to investigate the circumstances of my incarceration….there should be a human rights body to assist persons in a similar situation to mine.”
The isolated man is still optimistic of being with his family for Christmas one of these days – he continues to plead with the judicial system to give him a retrial.
“On Christmas morning waking up in prison is nothing easy, the first thing that comes to your mind is family and friends. The next thing is the joy you are missing out on, when you are behind these four walls. To be punishing on death row and in prison so long is worse than death,” Hussain stresses.
“This will be my 19th Christmas in the same condition, yes, I continue to count them, and by the grace of God I can only hope it will be the last, and for the judicial system to give me a fair review.”
Hussain revealed that only on Christmas Day, inmates can look forward to bread and pepperpot for breakfast, and “proper Chowmein or Curry Chicken with rice” for lunch. Dinner, he insists, is not worthy to be noted.
He explained that he had filed a petition to the United Nations Human Rights Committee under the Optional Protocol of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The application to the UN Human Rights Committee was registered as Complaint No. 862/1999.
Residents from Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder, Berbice, had sent a signed petition with their names and addresses to former President Bharrat Jagdeo, stating that Hussain was innocent and was not a part of the murder which he was convicted for, and thus did not deserve to be incarcerated.
Hafeez Hussain was charged with Hazrat Hussain, Vivekanand Singh and Tola Persaud, who all served sentences.
On 1 September 1993, Arnold Ramsammy was robbed and shot dead in his home. The four men were arrested between 3 and 4 September 1993 in relation to the crime. On 26 March 1996, Hafeez Hussain and Vivekanand Singh were convicted of murder and sentenced to death by hanging, while Hazrat Hussain and Tola Persaud were sentenced to two and three years respectively, after being found guilty of manslaughter.
Hafeez Hussain recounted that during the trial the police did not produce the station diary, the occurrence book, and the charge sheet to prove that he was not recognized during the identification parade by the victims.
The Human Rights Committee had in its 85th session between 17 October and 3 November 2005, in paragraph 6.3, found that the Government of Guyana had violated the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, in respect to the imposition of the death penalty on Hafeez Hussain.

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