Tyrone Reid, Enterprise Reporter

Huge rats have overrun the Fort Augusta Adult Correctional Centre for women, prompting the St. Catherine Health Department to call for its abandonment, fearing an outbreak of leptospirosis.

The local health authority submitted to the Department of Correctional Services a caustic report on the penal institution. The report highlights the invasion of rats, a massive infestation of roaches and flies, particularly in the kitchen, as well as the general filthiness of this facility, whose stated aim is the rehabilitation of women who have run afoul of the law.

Unsuitable for habitation

The scathing document, written after a routine inspection of the prison on July 11, deemed the facility, which housed 178 inmates and a baby at the time of the report, to be "unsuitable for habitation".

"Fort Augusta Correctional Centre should be abandoned and suitable location for inmates provided," the health department recommended.

It also cautioned that the health of inmates and staff at the prison were at an acute risk. "At present, a serious epidemic of leptospirosis is threatening due to the massive infestation of rats," the report said, and added, "the rats are as large as cats" and the threat of the disease "is inevitable".

However, Commissioner of Corrections, Major Richard Reese, while admitting there was vermin infestation, said that the report was exaggerated.

"The allegation of a massive infestation of rats is not substantiated," Major Reese said.

Community infestation

"It must be noted that the surrounding communities are experiencing a rodent infestation, which continues to affect the institution," he added.

According to the report, the incarcerated women had complained bitterly that the rats were wreaking havoc in the dormitories day and night.

The health inspector who compiled the report recommended that the public health problems at Fort Augusta "be given prompt attention to prevent an epidemic and an outbreak of other diseases".

The inspector minced no words in describing the run-down state of the kitchen area at the institution. "This facility is in a deplorable condition. There is a massive infestation of roaches and these could be seen running all over the food bags in the storage area.

"There are also flies as there are poor public health practices. The doors and windows are meshed, but doors are opened wide so flies can enter."

Failure to uphold public health standards was equalled by the general unpleasantness of the institution. Most of the dormitories leak whenever it rains and the walls beg for painting, the inspector said.

"Nothing in terms of repair has been effected to these dormitories over the years," the health official noted.

No official response

Meanwhile, Samuel Cameron, chief public health inspector for St. Catherine, said that the Department of Corrections is yet to officially respond to the letter that was sent to them almost a month ago.

"I was told (by an officer at the prison) that they called in pest control operators to set baits (but) we are awaiting a response from the Correctional Services to tell us what they have done," Mr. Cameron stressed.

Prison boss Major Reese told The Sunday Gleaner that immediate action had been taken to alleviate some of the concerns that were raised in the report. He pledged that the outstanding issues would be addressed expeditiously. "We are now in the process of securing the pro forma invoices to address the other matters of concern," he said.

Last month Major Reese disclosed that plans were well advanced for the construction of a new prison to be built on lands acquired in St. Catherine.

Tenders

He explained that they were in the process of receiving tenders from both the United States and United Kingdom governments to build the new facility that would be owned, leased by the successful bidder and then transferred to the Jamaican Government.

He explained that the new prison, which will replace the antiquated facilities at Fort Augusta, would be designed using a modern campus-style concept to accommodate both males and females.

The peninsula on which Fort Augusta sits and the lands adjacent to it have been sold to the Port Authority of Jamaica and all 50 acres (125 hectares) will be incorporated into redevelopment plans under way at the Port of Kingston.

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