More attorneys-at-law have stepped forward, bemoaning unsanitary conditions of police lock-ups across the Corporate Area.

The ongoing discussion follows last Sunday’s exposé on the conditions of lock-ups at Denham Town and Hunt’s Bay police stations in the west Kingston and St Andrew South police divisions, respectively.

Four men who were held at the facilities shared similar tales lamenting that they had no toilets, had to stoop over holes to defecate, and stand in faeces when showering.

Attorney Donahue Martin told the Jamaica Observer that clients often complain bitterly about the lack of sanitation, ventilation and the overall disregard for common decency in lock-ups.

“In relation to the physical facility, I recall a client saying that he is just one with the roaches. He is just there and the roaches are crawling all over. At some point, he said he just had to accept it. The next thing, of course, is in the evenings when they’re on lockdowns at some of the facilities, they have to be shouting and beckoning that they want to pass their bodily functions,” Martin said.

“Sometimes they have to just pass it in the cells. So sanitation is a real issue. It is an issue to their mental health and physical health as well. They are confined to a small cell with very limited time in relation to just getting out to refresh themselves, or to relive themselves or even take showers,” he continued.

Martin added that the lock-ups were never built for detainees to be in custody for lengthy periods.

“They really were built for very short-term housing for persons who are on remand, not for a year and several months. Imagine being confined to a very small space, sharing with somebody and you can’t really leave for a good time to shower or refresh yourself. It’s just an affront to common decency,” Martin said.

In addition, Dr Peter Figueroa, professor of public health and epidemiology at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, also warned of potential faecal-oral diseases that could be a threat to the health of detainees.

Defence attorney Tamika Harris told the Sunday Observer that the Corporate Area lock-ups were “more than deplorable”.

“They are unsanitary, dirty and filthy. Several clients confirmed that the cells are infested with rats and roaches. The detainees use a small drink bottle to pass urine and sometimes they are forced to pass faeces in the cells, because police officers are either unable, unavailable, or unwilling to allow them the opportunity to use the toilets,” Harris said.

“There are no toilets in the cells. A police officer must unlock the cell and escort you to the bathroom area. The cells are also overcrowded. One of my clients reported that 17 persons were in his cell at the Denham Town Police Station,” she added.

Harris was surprised that Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang denied that those are the conditions of the facilities.

“I think the minister may need to visit his physician if he thinks the aroma coming from the cells are pleasing to his nostrils. Lawyers visit the cells everyday to visit clients and we are not accommodated in air-conditioned offices; we stand at the entrance of the jails and from there we can smell the cells,” she told the Sunday Observer.

“The only recommendation I can make is for some of the jails to be demolished completely and new jail cells be constructed with larger cells or more cells, fitted with functioning toilets and wash basins and proper areas for lawyers to give advise and take instructions. The prisoners diet is for another conversation. But I am often told that the food is hardly fit for human consumption,” she continued.

Attorney Sayeed Bernard told the Sunday Observer that there was a need for improved restroom conditions.

“Interestingly, I’ve seen good lock-ups in Morant Bay and Linstead. But where the Corporate Area is concerned, it’s perhaps inhumane. The stench at Denham Town is bad, and there are poor bathroom facilities. Even in Constant Spring the facilities are better, but they have to beg and curse officers to get chemicals to even clean the place,” he said.

“They need to do an audit of all the lock-ups and they need to put systems in place that allows for the routine dispensation of sanitation products for the purpose of cleaning, et cetera. Also, because of the lack of sanitation, insects and roaches infest the place. A client told me he got an infection whilst in lock-up simply because of the lack of cleanliness. Another recommendation is to have JPs (justices of the peace) routinely visit the lock-ups and report where the facilities are found wanting.”

Last Sunday, Dr Chang responded to the claims of ex-detainees, who spoke to the Sunday Observer, saying he was privy to conditions of three lock-ups where work is being done to improve the facilities. The three facilities named by the security minister were separate from those highlighted on Sunday.

Chang said lock-ups at Central Police Station, Admiral Town Police Station and Olympic Gardens Police Station were being repaired.

“We get the PCOA (Police Civilian Oversight Authority) reports on a monthly basis and I do read them and they do a pretty good job on the stations’ conditions,” he said.