I am losing my sight on Death Row

THE EDITOR: My name is Reshi S Bissoon and I’m presently on Death Row. However, I have an eye problem and as a result of which I’m going blind. All my attempts to obtain assistance from higher authorities have fallen on the offices of the dumb, deaf and blind. I feel the only way to get some attention is to highlight my problem via your newspaper. I was arrested and charged for murder on December 4, 1995. Since that time, while in Golden Grove Prison, I started experiencing severe eye problems.

Eventually in November 1997, I got my eyes tested at Optometrists Today and the oculist diagnosed my eye problem as Keralo-Conus and recommended a corneagraph to rectify my eye problem. At Golden Grove Prison I made several requests for special letters to write the Minister of Health, the Minister of National Security and the Attorney General’s Office. All requests were denied by the prison authority. Unfortunately on October 29, 1999 I was convicted for murder and sent to Death Row at the State Prison of Port-of-Spain. From here I started attending the eye clinic at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, and the oculist diagnosed  that I’ll have to get it privately because the hospital cannot facilitate me at the moment.

Since then, I’ve written the Minister of Health, the Minister of National Security, the Attorney General’s Office, the Register of the Supreme Court, the Ombudsman and the Commissioner of Police, informing them about my deteriorating eye problem. I even wrote Mr Gilbert Peterson, president of the Legal Aid and Advisory Authority to grant me legal assistance and none was granted. Up to date no one has done anything to help me, meanwhile my eye sight continues to deteriorate rapidly. Basically the State is denying me medical attention.

RESHI S BISSOON
Port-of-Spain