Latest update January 30th, 2025 6:10 AM
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Death row inmate on hunger strike
Death row inmate Ganga Deolall, incarcerated for close to three decades, is said to be on a hunger strike.
Ganga Deolall
Deolall has reportedly taken the action in protest over the lack of proper medical attention he is receiving from personnel at the penal institution.
His relatives are calling on the relevant authorities to investigate what they claim is the unfair treatment being meted out to the diabetic inmate.
Deolall’s brother Mohan Persaud, calling from overseas, told Kaieteur News that for the last four days, his brother has been refusing his meals since he is unable to get medication which he is desperately in need of.
It is understood that the prisoner has been suffering from diabetes for the last 14 years. This publication was told that since Deolall was diagnosed with the chronic illness, he is taken to clinic occasionally. “When de clinic date comes sometimes they take him and sometimes they don’t,” the concerned brother said.
Kaieteur News was told that prior to February 15 last, certain recommendations were made relating to the prisoner’s well being. According to the family, Deolall is supposed to be getting certain foods and lots of cranberry juice. They however said that these provisions are not being looked after.
Persaud continued that in March of this year, the same recommendations were made and still there were no changes to the prisoner’s diet. Deolall’s family said that the man had produced the relevant prescriptions to the prison staff and the prison medical officer and the officer-in-charge had promised to look into the matter. But that promise, the relative said, was in vain.
It is however understood that on Wednesday May 16, Deolall woke up with numbness on the left side of his body. He reportedly went to the prison medic who promised that he would be allowed to visit the doctor. That promise never materialised. The following day, Deolall reportedly requested for a second time to go to the doctor. Again nothing came of the request and that is when the prisoner took matters into his own hands.
Since then, it is alleged that Deolall has not been taken for his medication. It was also revealed that since the hunger strike commenced, prison staffers have not visited the man’s cell.
Persaud said he understands that his brother is hungry and is suffering, and he hopes for some intervention for his brother’s sake. Director of Prisons Dale Erskine told Kaieteur News that he is unaware of the prisoner’s situation. The senior officer said that he had no idea that Deolall was on a hunger strike.
He however assured that an investigation will be launched as to ascertain the prisoner’s issue.
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