Calls for better conditions

OVER 350 inmates at Remand Yard, Golden Grove Prison in Arouca continued a hunger strike yesterday, refusing to eat or drink anything, given to them by the prison authorities.

The protest, which began on Monday at 6 am, is over several issues the prisoners claim the authorities have failed to address. For two days, food brought into the prison remained uneaten.

Prisons Commissioner John Rougier visited the northern wing on Monday where the prisoners are housed and spoke with prison officers.

Yesterday, Rougier held in an emergency meeting with Junior Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds to brief him on the issue.

“We have a situation and are trying to see how we can control it,” Rougier said. He refused to divulge any further details on measures being put in place to deal with the situation.

One of the affected prisoners contacted Newsday via a cell phone saying the hunger strike will continue until the Commissioner of Prisons deals with the problems. He said some issues include the late arrival of prison vans for inmates to attend court, the extremely hot and uncomfortable conditions experienced by prisoners in the vans, poor quality of food served and the lack of privacy for prisoners, when relatives visit.

The inmate told Newsday orderlies assigned to empty slop pails refused to do their jobs yesterday, resulting in filth being thrown into the corridors.

Under the watchful eyes of prison officers, inmates began chanting and calling for better treatment.

Newsday understands the strength at the prison was increased for security reasons.

An ambulance was also on standby outside the prison, in the event that inmates fell sick.