Murphy: Cigarettes banned in maximum security to “preserve health and safety”
NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prisoner Commissioner Charles Murphy on Friday “categorically” denied claims that inmates incarcerated at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS) are treated “unfairly and inhumanely”.
Murphy was responding to reports that circulated on Thursday of major disturbances and unrest at the facility after inmates were allegedly denied water, cigarettes and food.
According to correctional officers, who did not want to be identified, the scene began to play out around 7am in the maximum-security wing.
The inmates were allegedly in such a state of unrest that officers refused to open the prison cells.
The prisoners reportedly grew more restless as the commissioner made his rounds through the cell blocks, many of them shouting profanities.
Purported audio of the inmates shouting and banging on cell bars and walls was circulated on social media.
Eyewitness News understands the issue stems from several changes made at the BDOCS recently.
Inmates are allegedly no longer allowed to buy water and will have to drink water from the compound’s osmosis plant, which they claim is muddy.
Secondly, inmates no longer have access to cigarettes and can no longer smoke in the facility, which is being renovated and was recently outfitted with air conditioning units .
Additionally, reports claimed there is a food shortage at the prison and inmates have only been given cream of wheat, corned beef, ground turkey and oatmeal.
In a statement refuting the claims, Murphy insisted inmates are allowed three meals per day, daily exercise and showers in accordance with the Human Rights Convention, the United Nations’ Standard Minimum Treatment of Offenders and the Correctional Services Act, 2014.
He explained that the southern wing of the Maximum Security Housing Unit has just been recently renovated as part of the prison’s improvement project and the area has been designated as a no-smoking zone.
“It was brought to my attention that inmates are smoking in the unit, which created a problem for inmates who do not smoke,” Murphy said.
“Inmates were also found damaging the walls and cell doors in the newly renovated unit with the cigarettes.
“They have been warned to discontinue this practice many times to no avail.
“Therefore, the administration took the position to discontinue the issuance of cigarettes to preserve health and safety of all inmates and to protect the infrastructure within maximum security and the interest of the general public at large.”
The facility suspended visitations, the commissary and all public activities in March 2020 as precautionary measures to protect against the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
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