African prisoners

African prisoners incarcerated at the Maximum Security Prison at Golden Grove, Arouca, are threatening to commit suicide by refusing to eat if they are not deported or released.

Some of them have been in prison for the past ten months.

Yesterday, the Africans expressed concern for their safety because of violent incidents which they claim occur daily between prisoners and officers and themselves.

A release sent yesterday by the Traditional Afrikan National Association, acting on behalf of the Africans, claimed that two Nigerians were beaten with a cricket bat by prison officers.

The release also referred to another incident involving Nigerians who were physically assaulted by immigration officers at San Fernando, after having spent the night in what was described as a “cockroach-infested cell” at the Marabella Police Station, two months ago.

“The immigrants are traumatised by Government’s failure to either deport or release them and they have chosen death instead of continued imprisonment and have requested that the United Nations be informed of their intention to kill themselves,” the release revealed.

The 13 prisoners said although the hunger strike at Golden Grove has ended they will continue to refuse the meals given to them.

Yesterday, Commissioner of Prisons John Rougier said he was not aware that the African prisoners were on a hunger strike.

He added that if they were engaged in such a strike efforts would be made to negotiate with them.

Newsday learnt that Government is making arrangements to have the Africans returned to their respective countries.

A meeting was held yesterday to deal with the situation.

David Walcott, executive member of the Traditional Afrikan National Association, said that last Friday, the 13 prisoners were told to pack their belongings because they were supposed to leave Trinidad that day.

They got hair cuts in preparation for deportation but were subsequently informed by prison authorities that the Ministry of National Security had difficulty getting special visas for them.