By Lynford Simpson,
Staff Reporter
THE REPORT on the Commission of Enquiry into the beating of prisoners in May last year, at the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre, Spanish Town, should be ready by next week.
Shirley Byfield, information officer at the Ministry of National Security and Justice, told The Gleaner that the report being prepared by Senior Puisne Judge, Justice Lloyd Ellis, would be ready by then. However, she would not state the reasons for the eight-month delay.
Derrick Taylor, director of justice administration in the ministry, and secretary to the commission, three weeks ago said that the report was being typed. However he was not available for comment when The Gleaner tried to contact him.
The report should have been ready since November last year. However, Justice Ellis, the sole commissioner at the enquiry held from June to July 2000, was reportedly swamped with courtroom duties. He went on leave in January.
It is expected to make recommendations aimed at preventing a recurrence of the incident where more than 300 prisoners were battered by soldiers and warders on May 21 and 22, last year. At the end of the enquiry, Mr. Justice Ellis said the evidence given had disclosed "certain serious conditions which exist in the prison", adding that "that will be the subject of my deliberation, possibly recommendation".
The five-week enquiry which ended on July 12 heard testimony from more than 40 witnesses including soldiers, warders, police officers, security guards and prisoners. Its aim was to ascertain the cause of the upheaval at the prison, and to establish how contraband entered the prison.
