All calm at the prison - Prescod

Prescod

Calm has been restored to the St. Catherine District Prison, following disturbances at the facility last week in which at least 76 prisoners were beaten by warders and soldiers.

"Right now there is calm and we have control of St. Catherine (District Prison)," said Commissioner of Corrections, Lieutenant Colonel John Prescod in an interview with the state news agency JAMPRESS yesterday. "Soldiers are there and we are determined that we are going to carry out our jobs professionally."

Lt. Col. John Prescod warned that searches would continue in the prisons "and if force has to be used it will be used."

He added "We cannot allow for those few bad inmates to feel that they can get away with bad behaviour."

A committee is currently investigating last week's incident and will make a report to National Security and Justice Minister K.D. Knight.

The committee will seek to determine whether excessive force was used by the authorities to restrain the prisoners.

The Gleaner reported on Thursday that prisoners at the institution were badly beaten by soldiers and warders after the authorities attempted to carry out searches of their cells.

Dr. Raymoth Notice, one of the medical officers at the prison confirmed the beatings and issued a strong condemnation of warders and soldiers actions.

"I saw a group of about 15 soldiers and warders handcuff an inmate, then kick, box and beat him with batons. This inmate is now hospitalised outside of the institution. I believe if it were not for my presence probably they would have killed him. It is awful and these inhumane things must stop," Dr. Notice was quoted as saying in The Gleaner.

Lt. Col. Prescod told JAMPRESS that of the 76 prisoners who were treated for injuries, about 39 had been in a condition serious enough to warrant a medical officer's attention and five had been sent to the Spanish Town Hospital.

Against actions

Five soldiers and three warders were injured in the incident with one soldier in hospital for surgery to his mouth and another having a broken wrist, Lt. Col. Prescod said.

The Gleaner reported that about 20 rachet knives, nine cellular phones, more than 100 jammers (sharpened pieces of metal), machetes, cameras, a television set, ganja, and a power saw were netted from last week's raid.

Since news of the incident broke last week a number of civic and human rights organisations have come out against the actions of the soldiers and warders.

The Jamaican Bar Association called on the authorities to speedily take measures to protect all prisoners from further abuse.

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