By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
WITH no help from the government, substantial cleaning of Her Majesty’s Prison will start next week, Prison Staff Association President Gregory Archer said yesterday, adding that the move signals the first real progress toward resolving the prison’s long-standing structural issues.
He said the progress comes because of the cooperation of the prison’s administration and not that of government officials, who, he said, continue to act “the same as always” when responding to their concerns.
His comments come two weeks after nearly half of the prison officers at Fox Hill failed to report for duty as they demanded action from the government over the unsanitary state of the prison and the resulting health implications.
Mr Archer met government officials last week to discuss such issues.
He said: “We went into dialogue with them but we still await a response and a timeframe for when certain things will be done. We will be heard. We have their attention. We are awaiting their response, for their negotiator team to come back to us.”
He said in the meantime he is pleased to have the support of the prison’s administration, headed by Superintendent Patrick Wright.
“The administration is trying to get things done,” he said. “Some matters can be dealt with internally. There is going to be a massive cleanup of the prison as soon as next week, dealing with mould, rats, scrubbing of cells and the like.”
He could not say who will perform such cleaning.
But to make other important changes, he said, funds from the government will be required. Among the issues that need to be addressed are overcrowded cells.
The PSA has also complained that officers are continuously faced with the nauseating stench coming from slop buckets in use in maximum security and that they have been exposed to prisoners with infectious diseases. It has also been claimed that there is insufficient running water at the prison.
Mr Archer said that no further demonstration or protest is currently being planned by prison officers. “We are still working. We are patriots to our country,” he said.
Comments
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 6 months ago
Disgraceful. Instead of discussing a new building for themselves, a building that they will occupy for max five hours per week, they should be looking at a new building for the thousands of young men and women sent to live in these subhuman conditions. Treat them like animals and they will act like animals. We are throwing our black young men in the garbage.
Purcell 10 years, 6 months ago
While I would not mind all the MPs scrubbing the prison's toilets I don't see what help the government should give? The prisons have plenty man power to do the cleaning.
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TheMadHatter 10 years, 6 months ago
Purcell, hopefully you will never have to enter the real world and understand the serious unbelievable situation that exists at HMP. May you continue to live on your puffy cloud.
TheMadHatter
John 10 years, 6 months ago
Is this the same place where the minister of national security wants to send young school children when they have behavioral problems? Glad to know the staff is taking the effort to get the place cleaned up. Ever wondered why so many hip hop and rap artist are being arrested and being sent to jail? The record labels are behind it. They are encouraging their artist to portray it as being cool to tote guns, get arrested and do jail time. And our young men follow suit. Not too long ago Rick Ross did a concert here. This man has a song out call 'The devil is a lie". Many people think the song is saying "the devil is a liar" notice the close play on words but the whole difference in the meaning. If you google the lyrics, Jay Z who also sings with Rick Ross claims he is the black jesus 'and he turn water into wine." This refers to when he use to sell drugs. This is what is influencing our young people to want to go to jail...and y0u would be surprised to know who is behind it. Follow the money
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