EDITOR, The Tribune.

Could it be that the reason that so many people are writing and speaking out about the disgusting situation at the Prison is because so many people have friends and loved ones who have been personally and negatively effected by their time there. Yes, they may be convicted criminals, but they are also first and foremost human beings - Bahamians who deserve to be treated decently, humanely and shown a better way.

I am also a former inmate who lived in the Maximum Security front dorm for many years. I lived with and listened to the late Andrew ‘Yogi’ Davis complain day after day to senior officers about his health and the poor food he received. The former Commissioner granted Yogi permission to have his family deliver the special foods that his doctor recommended. The current Commissioner brought that to an end and we all watched Yogi’s health deteriorate until his recent end. It hurt and angered inmates and many officers because it did not have to be. It’s my opinion that a little compassion could have saved that man’s life.

I watched men work from 7:30am to 4pm daily and only receive a plate of cold white rice and corned beef as compensation. Not even as little as $5 to buy a pouch of sweet milk would be given by this cold-hearted leadership. It is inmates that built and are running the prison. Inmates cook all of the food; even in the officers cafeteria. Inmates perform the plumbing, electrical, sanitary work, etc. Why not give them a little compensation as a way to encourage honest work and demonstrate an alternative to crime? Why not give these men a sense of value and the hope for a meaningful place in society? Worth as human beings. Instead the Commissioner operates like a modern day Pharaoh. But we will never hear their association president, Mr Culmer, complain about the treatment of inmates. We will never hear him come out and say that the cats on the compound are treated better than our fellow Bahamians.

In closing I will remind the public that several years ago a small group of inmates were granted Clemency. After months of waiting they discovered that the prison sat on their release papers and stalled the release. I pray that these men and women who showed reform and deserve a second chance are not now victims of prison leadership disregard or political timing.

MR MOSS

Nassau,

March 24, 2021.