Gambian Inmates serving their respective sentences have been sleeping on bare hard floor at the main notorious Mile II Prisons in Banjul sources at the Prisons told Gainako newspaper. A Source at the Prison who asked for cover, told our reporter in an interview Wednesday August 21, 2013 that the condition in which the inmates are at Mile 2 Central Prison is worrying and needs an urgent attention from the Government of the Gambia before there would be a catastrophe in the Prison.
He stated that some of the cells that host over 30 inmates are in terrible conditions as most of the convicted inmates are sleeping on the hard floor without beds or sponges which he said is inhumane and needs to be addressed before many prisoners die. ”The authorities at the Ministry of the Interior are very much aware of the situation but don’t seem to care or take any appropriate step”. This is a gross human rights violation as even prisoners have rights as well.
He noted that if the authorities deny the claims, then let them allow humanitarian groups and human rights organizations such as the Red Cross, Amnesty International and other bodies to assess the situation at both the Remand Wing and the main prison Cells. He added that they will be shocked on the conditions and the conditions that need to be improved. The living conditions of the inmates who are serving jail terms and those held without bail waiting for trial is simply unimaginable.
On the health and welfare of the inmates, he said it is very deplorable because some of them don’t even have access to proper medical care or decent meals. These are rights they need to have as prisoners and the Jammeh administration should investigate the situation with immediate effect. These conditions have been reported by people who have been there but the administration paid a deaf ear.
In an effort to validate the information given to our reporter, Gainako spoke to a mother whose son is a Military convict and currently serving jail terms. She said after visiting her son recently at the Prisons, she was shocked to learn from her son that their situation is very poor in all aspects ranging from sanitary situation to nutrition and medical attention. ‘He told her that they indeed sleep on bare floors as the cells are crowded with over 30-40 inmates. The emotionally helpless mother further told this reporter that if the authorities really care for the welfare of the inmates, they should immediately intervene to save lives recounting that what she saw at the Prison is very serious and sad.
A 39 year old Man who also visited his relative at the notorious prison stated that Mile 2 is a hell and the only way to save it from cracking is to provide facilities and improve the lives of inmates with immediate effect. “This is the worst situation I have ever seen human beings subjected to in my life” He noted that it is very disheartening to see your love one in a terrible situation and you cannot bail him/her from such a mess. ”My appeal to the authorities is to bail out the inmates who are sufferings beyond any imagination at the Prison. Some of these people will serve out their time and return to society in good health so they can continue to live their lives.
He further challenged the Minister of the Interior Ousman Sonko and his senior officials to embark on a tour on the facilities and come up with something better for them. An officer at the Prison who also spoke anonymously maintained that the situation is despicable and something needs to be done he concluded. He called on the international human rights groups to pressure the Jammeh government to allow human rights groups such as the Red Cross to visit the prisons to assess the situation. That even prisoners in concentration camps have their basic rights and should be treated with humanity.