Assistant Superintendent of the Dominica State Prison, Handel Joseph said the growing population of mentally ill inmates at the facility continues to be a challenge.
“The number of mentally ill inmates at the institution continues to be a challenge for us,” he indicated, speaking recently on the issue at the State Prison.
He also highlighted ongoing security concerns and the overall effects of a congested system.
Joseph reported that there are 46 mentally ill inmates at the prison and broke down the current population as follows:
“Presently there are 131 inmates on remand, 23 of these inmates have been on remand for more than three years, with the longest remand period of an inmate being 7 years,” he said.
“From the magistrates court 98 males, one female, from the High Court 30 males and one female,” he revealed.
“Remands, 127 males, one female. Trial one male and no females.”
Joseph continued, “That brings us to 258 males and three females, a total of 261.”
Furthermore, he said there are 24 foreign nationals at the state prison.
“Fourteen are Venezuelans, three St Lucians, three from St Maarten, two from Haiti, one from Trinidad and Tobago, one from Italy,” Joseph revealed. “Fourteen of these foreign nationals are committed and ten are on remand.”
Joseph explained that among the prison population, there is no juvenile.
Meanwhile, he stated that unauthorized articles continue to find their way into the prison compound.
“Perpetrators cut through the fence to place and send unauthorized articles into the prison compound,” he revealed.
A new wall is currently under construction at the facility with the aim of mitigating this concern, an effort that is clearly needed amidst the convolution of a heavily weighted system.
“We hope that when the new fence is completed this practice will cease.”
I’m a Canadian married to a Dominican. I have traveled many times there. It’s disheartening to see what your PM does to his people.(I know mine is no better) about a year after the hurricane I came across s picture of Melissa and their child at their penthouse apartment in NY the child was wearing a 1500$ bathing suit WTF Roosevelt. I’ve heard stories of the jail and how inhuman the living conditions are there,they are criminals and should be held accountable for their actions but as well still treated like a human. He has done nothing since the hurricane to fix the GDP or the economy. My heart hurts for the citizens of Dominica
Everything is allowed to run down in our country courtesy of this incompetent and corrupt PM. If only he would look after the country the same way as he looks after himself.
I can remember then saying…they will paint d prison blue…but hope all u have enough space and red paint to put all of them there….all of those red ministers and d noisy speakers seems to be eating pounds of butter everyday…well fat …their belly hanging….life is sweet….eat alot it wont always b like that…
Let’s see how long he remains in his position. Workers at the hospital don’t have freedom of speech, those at the registry don’t have freedom of speech, those in the police force don’t have freedom of speech, those at the post office don’t have freedom of speech, workers at the port authority and the airport do not have freedom of speech, firemen don’t have freedom of speech, workers at Astaphan’s and Whitcurch don’t have freedom of speech, workers at the treasury don’t have freedom of speech, workers at the Chinese business places don’t have freedom of speech and the number of people who are stifling and hurting from within are staggering. All because they have no ways and means to survive without bowing their heads and knees. I wonder what Martin Luther King Jr. would have said about the plight of the Dominican people. I think he would organize a match such as the Caribbean has never seen before. We must follow in the footsteps of our ancestors to liberate ourselves from tyranny.
“A new wall is currently under construction at the facility with the aim of mitigating this concern, an effort that is clearly needed amidst the convolution of a heavily weighted system.”
“We hope that when the new fence is completed this practice will cease.”
So….is it a wall or a fence? And who is building or installing this wall or fence? Is it the inmates themselves? Another question i ask is what are the living conditions of prisoners at Stockfarm? Are we still of the opinion that prison should be the most unsanitary inhumane place that violators of the law should be placed? when last was an inspection of the prisons done by people like environmental health unit at least? are inmates still sharing 1 bucket per cell of 4 or more people? are inmates still sleeping on filthy pieces of thin foam on the ground? not saying prison has to be hotel like accommodations, but there has to be a standard adhered to.
This is some serious International Human Rights violations taking place in the Commonwealth of Dominica: 46 mentally ill inmates at the prison and broke down the current population as follows: “Presently there are 131 inmates on remand, 23 of these inmates have been on remand for more than three years, with the longest remand period of an inmate being 7 years,” he said.
Dominicans please remember that, “you can judge a society, a nations greatness and its degree of civilization based on how well it treats its prisoners and the weakest members of its society.”
Mr. Handel Joseph must be commended for giving such a transparent and comprehensive report of affairs at the state prison. I wish senior civil servants in other departments of the civil service will do the same. Getting simple data, statistics and information from many sectors of the public service is as tough as extracting teeth.
The homeless and the mentally-ill populations are exploding exponentially. The billions collected from the CBI scheme should be used to construct proper facilities for these two groups of unfortunate people. The monies should not be used to finance Roosevelt and his family lavished lifestyle; his bi-weekly joy trips all around the globe; his staging of so many sewo.
Nothing works well in the public sector in Dominica whether it be the hospital, prison, electricity and water departments, in fact, the entire public service.
Dominica has been surrendered to a most unskilled, parsimonious tyrant by the indifference of population.
Do you want them to enroll in classes at UWI from their cell? Is that considered punishment? Do you want them to sleep on a Queen-sized bed? Do you want them to watch Steve Harvey on FOX45 with Family Feud? Isn’t there enough Family Feud in the cells?