The Tribune

By DANA SMITH dsmith@tribunemedia.net HER Majesty's Prison, Fox Hill has no running water after 6pm - just one among the many problems that have the Bahamas Prison Officers Association up in arms. Executive members of the association detailed a list of problems affecting the prison which include derelict kitchen facilities and a lack of protective gear for officers. Gregory Archer, BPOA president, said morale among officers is "at an all-time low" and the association has now joined forces with the National Congress of Trade Unions (NCTU) in an effort to seek improvements. "For the past two years and some, we've been agitating to the administrator of Her Majesty's Prison on several issues," Mr Archer said. "At one point, nine months ago, the NCTU intervened with us to the superintendent of the prison and we had agreed on short term goals to be accomplished in a timely fashion. As it stands now, a new executive is now in office and these goals have not been met." BPOA vice-president Scott Williams said: "After 6 o'clock, there is no water in the entire prison. So what happens now is, before the water is cut off we have to store the water in a 55 gallon drum and if you use the water, you have to use a five gallon bucket to flush the toilet. "For years, we've been trying to find a solution, even if we bring to the table a solution, the administration is always finding reasons why it can't be done. That is unacceptable for us now, unacceptable," he said. "Before an officer or an inmate gets sick with some sort of disease and it spreads throughout the prison, it must come to an end." In the kitchen, there is just "one baker and one boiler" in charge of feeding 1,500 inmates, Mr Williams said. The ceiling tiles are black with grease and falling out - to the point where "you can literally look through and see the skies," he said. He added there is an "open grease pit" which emanates a "strong odour", and officers have slipped and hurt themselves. The men said officers also need more panic buttons, safety vests, radio sets, and pepper spray. They added that lunch hours are not properly regulated, no transportation is provided to and from court for officers, and there is no succession planning for senior staff. Mr Archer said the BPOA has met with National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest about the problems but he only encouraged the association to negotiate with prison bosses. But the BPOA would prefer for the government to step in. As for the reports of possible strike action, Mr Archer said: "Just stay tuned." Prison superintendent Dr Elliston Rahming could not be reached for comment. Last night, DNA Sea Breeze candidate Alfred Poitier said Minister Turnquest must act expeditiously to address the concerns and not take the matter lightly. "The security of our nation, the health and life of these officers are not trivial matters. Procrastination is not an option."