Tweet
36 inmates, nine guards injured in Jamaican prison riot
Agence France-PresseFebruary 9, 2010
KINGSTON - Inmates rioted at a Jamaican prison over water supplies and new rules on contraband in a bloody melee that left 36 prisoners injured and nine prison staff hurt, authorities said Tuesday.
Soldiers, correctional officers and riot police used batons and tear gas to quell the fracas at the maximum security adult remand center in Kingston, they said.
"The prisoners were reacting to measures instituted by the commissioner of corrections and the commissioner of police to stem the flow of contraband into the prisons," National Security Minister Dwight Nelson said.
Nelson identified the contraband as cellular phones and drugs.
He said inmates also rioted because of an absence of water at the facility. Jamaica's national water commission has been forced to ration water on the island because of a prolonged drought.
Nelson said the prisoners believed they were being denied water, a situation he said has since been remedied.
"Everything is back to normal now," the national security minister said.
The national security minister has said the correctional officers have been treated at hospital and released. At least six inmates are still hospitalized.
Agence France-PresseFebruary 9, 2010
KINGSTON - Inmates rioted at a Jamaican prison over water supplies and new rules on contraband in a bloody melee that left 36 prisoners injured and nine prison staff hurt, authorities said Tuesday.
Soldiers, correctional officers and riot police used batons and tear gas to quell the fracas at the maximum security adult remand center in Kingston, they said.
"The prisoners were reacting to measures instituted by the commissioner of corrections and the commissioner of police to stem the flow of contraband into the prisons," National Security Minister Dwight Nelson said.
Nelson identified the contraband as cellular phones and drugs.
He said inmates also rioted because of an absence of water at the facility. Jamaica's national water commission has been forced to ration water on the island because of a prolonged drought.
Nelson said the prisoners believed they were being denied water, a situation he said has since been remedied.
"Everything is back to normal now," the national security minister said.
The national security minister has said the correctional officers have been treated at hospital and released. At least six inmates are still hospitalized.
Comment