Prison officers demand action on water and sanitation issues

Prison officers and inmates at the Port of Spain Prison are facing unacceptable conditions due to a lack of functioning water pumps, prompting the Prison Officers’ Association (POA) to appeal to the Ministry of Homeland Security. POA public secretary Lester Logie highlighted that officers are being forced to carry water for basic sanitation needs, including flushing toilets and bathing in various areas of the facility.

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I want to make an appeal to the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Homeland Security...to give some kind of directive to purchase the three water pumps for the Port of Spain prison.

"We have officers toting water to flush toilets. Even the superintendent office, they have to carry water to flush toilets and to bathe," Logie stated. He noted that inmates are also compelled to carry water to flush their cells. Logie questioned why the necessary water pumps had not been purchased, especially since profits generated from the prison commissary could reportedly cover the cost.

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We have officers toting water to flush toilets. Even the superintendent office, they have to carry water to flush toilets and to bathe.

Logie suggested that funds from the commissary, where inmates' families purchase items, should be used to improve prison operations. "We have a prison commissary where inmates’ families can purchase items, and the profits from that could purchase those water pumps. Now we are unsure where the funds, where the profits are going," he said. He emphasized that prison officers should not have to rely on the association for basic operational equipment when a funding source exists.

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A three-horsepower water pump, what’s the cost of that? The permanent secretary: you need to give some directives, please.

Furthermore, the POA raised concerns about a recent rat infestation in the prison's ration room, which was reportedly addressed only after the association alerted the Minister of Homeland Security. Logie criticized management for appearing more concerned with identifying the source of the information than with resolving the problem, stating that they "chastise the officers for reporting it to the association."

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We have a prison commissary where inmates’ families can purchase items, and the profits from that could purchase those water pumps. Now we are unsure where the funds, where the profits are going.