Courage of a witness

Notice

DR. RAYMOTH NOTICE, one of the medical officers who work at the St. Catherine District Prison, deserves commendation for his courage in telling what he saw. It was savagery on a scale comparable with the obscenities of South African Apartheid.

Indeed Dr. Notice himself cited the infamous Rodney King beating by Los Angeles police in 1991 as being of less intensity. He told this newspaper that inmates have been hospitalised with broken ribs, fractured bones and swollen limbs; some had teeth knocked out.

Said he: "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".

Persons serving prison sentences are in the custody and protection of the Correctional Services, led by Lieutenant Colonel John Prescod. It appears however that any semblance of a proper system of authority with a respect for and understanding of rules and regulations have disappeared from the prison system.

How else to explain the contraband items found in prison cells, including, of all things, a power saw! These items could not have been smuggled in without the connivance of corrupt conspirators at some level of supervision.

This signifies a collapse of all authority and good order in which the imposition of strong disciplinary measures spiralled out of control.

As usual the Minister of National Security and Justice has ordered an investigation by the police. The same routine followed the Montego Bay Street People Scandal and the Michael Gayle case ­ without tangible results thus far.

The atrocities in the St. Catherine District Prison were witnessed by a courageous doctor with the guts to say what he saw. As he said, "I don't care what the soldiers or warders want to do with me, but the truth must be told and this must stop. I am for justice and this must end..."

How many other citizens who value justice are prepared to emulate him.

The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner.