More than a dozen death row inmates at Her Majestyﾴs Prison went on a hunger strike over the weekend forcing prison officials to hear pressing concerns and meet at least some of their demands.
Prison Superintendent Dr. Elliston Rahming told The Bahama Journal on Monday that the prisoners had ended the hunger strike at Her Majestyﾴs Prison following a ﾓvery amicableﾒ meeting on Sunday with prison officials, who agreed to address their concerns.
In a petition delivered to the Bahama Journal, the condemned men claimed there were ﾓgrave infractions of their fundamental, civil and constitutional rightsﾒ and had refused to eat their daily rations, take showers, and take advantage of their exercise time in the yard.
As part of their petition, the inmates had requested daily showers and daily exercises in ﾓan appropriate area that is sufficiently ventilated.ﾒ
They also asked for the provision of a basketball court.
ﾓThis can be constructed using half of the backyard,ﾒ the letter said.
ﾓThe manual labour is free. This project would achieve great strides in terms of providing good fundamental recreation, which is one of the main tools needed for reformation.ﾒ
The condemned men also raised the issue of visitation rights.
The prisoners called it ﾓabsolutely unfairﾒ to have relatives visit from abroad only to spend 20 to 30 minutes with their loved ones. The prisoners are pushing for that time to be extended to an hour.
According to the petition, inmates too feel the need to have both a transparent and consistent system whereby they are afforded unrestricted access to shopping from the Prison Commissary.
ﾓAs it now stands, we are being denied a fundamental right which was enforced from the inception of the Prison Commissary,ﾒ the petition read.
ﾓBut with the passage of time, this fundamental right has been taken away without any explanation of any kind. In addition, in many cases, monies have been deposited on to our accounts by family members, but we have not been allowed to spend our money even for essential toiletries.ﾒ
The four-paged hand written letter was signed by 13 death row inmates, including murder convicts, Trono Davis and Forrester Bowe Jr., who are challenging the mandatory death sentence before the Privy Council in London.
Dr. Rahming explained to The Bahamas Journal on Monday that the inmatesﾴ refusal to accept food and drink was a matter that has been resolved ﾓvery amicably.ﾒ
He admitted that all of the concerns are longstanding ones that inmates have clamored over for a number of months and in some cases, years.
It is now his responsibility, he said, to look into the issues dispassionately.
ﾓAll of the inmates are eating and drinking as normal,ﾒ Dr. Rahming said.
ﾓ[On Sunday], I met with those who may have had a problem. We have reached an understanding. I think that the points that they raised are longstanding and have obviously gone unheeded and I assured that senior management would meet this week and go over the matters raised and that I would be getting back to them to say which complaint has merit, what doesnﾴt have merit and what can and cannot be done and they have accepted that.ﾒ
Dr. Rahming said once the inmatesﾴ grievances have been addressed, he will call a press conference to inform the public of the ﾓtrue position.ﾒ
Macushla N. Pinder, The Bahama Journal
