Female prisoners getting on bad

over-crowding and the inability to receive simple items to assist them in their stay at the prison. Newsday understands that when the female prisoners began protesting.

that section of the Golden Grove facility was placed under lock down as officers from other sections of the prison were dispatched to that section to assist their colleagues in restoring calm. However the female prisoners continued to shout, curse and demand that their living conditions be improved. They reportedly even threatened to embark on a hunger strike if their demands were not met. When breakfast was taken to the prisoners yesterday, they refused to eat was served, claiming that they were not pleased with their daily ration - they insisted that the bread served to them on mornings is usually stale and the butter is often rancid. They also claimed that the tea served to them appeared to be watered down. The women insisted that basic items like toiletries were being denied to them and at times.

those who could not afford to buy items such as disposable sanitary pads from the prison’s commissary.

had to do without. They added that in some instances, they were not given the allotted ‘airing out’ period and that some of their rights were denied. Some of the female prisoners have vowed to continue the hunger strike, claiming that they had previously taken their grouses to management at the prison yet little to nothing had been done to ease their plight. Although normalcy was returned to the Women’s Prison shortly after 6 am yesterday, the female prisoners insisted that they would continue their hunger strike until some of the ills meted out to them are dealt with expeditiously. Efforts to reach Commissioner of Prisons.

Sterling Stewart, on the matter proved futile. Prison officers who contacted Newsday later said while they understand the concerns of the female prisoners, they too are stressed out because they have to work in the same inhumane environment the prisoners are complaining about. Prison officers acknowledged there is an issue of over-crowding.

telling Newsday that the Women’s Prison needs to be reorganised in such a way to avoid tensions between inmates and staffers.