Ellis for prison probe

Justice Lloyd Ellis

JUSTICE LLOYD Ellis, Senior Puisne Judge, was named last night by Prime Minister P. J. Patterson to probe disturbances last week at St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre, Spanish Town, which culminated in more than 150 prisoners being beaten, some ending up with broken bones.

Yesterday, Mr. Patterson disclosed the terms of reference for the one-man Commission of Enquiry.

Mr. Justice Ellis is to:

1) enquire into and report on recent incidents at the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre which

(a) disclosed the acquisition, accumulation and possession by inmates of prohibited weapons, implements, cellular phones and other prohibited equipment and substances;

(b) resulted in injuries to correctional officers, military personnel and inmates and,

(2) To make such recommendations as the commissioner deems fit.

It could not be determined last night when the enquiry will start.

Yesterday Public Defender Howard Hamilton, Q.C., toured the prison (formerly the St. Catherine District Prison) to determine the condition of prisoners who were beaten last week by warders and soldiers.

He told The Gleaner that he visited the four cell blocks and interviewed 500 inmates. Of this number, he said, 158 had injuries which were not yet treated by medical personnel.

Mr. Hamilton said he was informed by Dr. Raymoth Notice, a medical officer for the prison, that 25 of the 158 prisoners had injuries that were considered serious. These include head injuries and fractures. Another 68 had bruises which were not considered very serious while the rest had injuries which he said were characterised by Dr. Notice as "of no significance."

"Some of the inmates had linear abrasions (weals) which were consistent with beating by wires," Mr. Hamilton said. He said he sought to get an explanation from the inmates of the reason for the beatings, but none could give a satisfactory response. "They could offer no explanation, they are just saying that they were beaten."

Mr. Hamilton said his office would be watching to see what comes out of the commission of enquiry which has been set up by the Government to look into the situation. He, however noted, that the findings of the enquiry would not preclude his office from pursuing redress for individual inmates, if a case can be made that their rights were violated.

He expressed dismay at the conditions which he saw in the prison. "The conditions are appalling. What is required is some solution that will deal with the situation," he said.

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