Attorney General Sir Steadroy ‘Cutie’ Benjamin shed light on the harsh and inhumane conditions prevailing in the nation’s prison system.
Speaking passionately, the Attorney General recounted a distressing incident from 1991 when he represented an inmate from Venezuela who suffered extreme mistreatment.
As Sir Benjamin addressed the assembly, he vividly described the appalling conditions faced by the inmate in question.
The individual had severe skin conditions, with welts covering his body.
The prison cell, according to the Attorney General, lacked basic hygiene, with carbolic being used to wash the windows, turning the inmate’s skin white and emitting a pervasive odor.
“I saw him, he spoke to me. I was instructed to bring a battle before the court – cruel and inhumane treatment. I did it,” Sir Benjamin passionately recounted. However, the result was disheartening as the judges concluded that despite the harsh conditions, prisons were not akin to hotels. The historical context of colonialism, lack of modern facilities, and overcrowded living conditions were considered, leading to the dismissal of the case.
Expressing his dismay, Sir Benjamin vowed to change the situation.
“We’re going to change all of that in this country,” he declared emphatically. The Attorney General announced a comprehensive plan to reform the prison system, including changes in leadership and the implementation of modern technologies.
Mr. Pennyfeather has been appointed to head the prison, and is actively involved in introducing a camera system to monitor and ensure the safety of inmates.
“We’re going to make of it, my friend. We’re going to change the law,” Sir Benjamin declared.
The Attorney General emphasized the need to update archaic laws dating back to the early 1950s, stating that the days of measuring out pounds of this and that are over.
He proposed changing the name of “His Majesty’s Prison” to the “Department of Corrections,” signaling a shift towards a more rehabilitative and humane approach.
Sir Steadroy Cutie Benjamin expressed his commitment to eradicating cruel and inhumane treatment within the prison system, signaling a new era for the Department of Corrections in the country.
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Sir Steadroy, do you mean the same Privy Council that the UPP’s Pearl Quinn-Williams and the rest of the cabal so love to hold up as a paragon of virtue and morals? You mean to tell me that those very caring Englishmen who have no psychological connection to the Caribbean said that the prison is just fine as is? Do you mean to say that the white law lords do not think that 1735 is an inhuman and inhumane place? I am both shocked and flabbergasted that the Privy Council has never really cared about justice for non-whites. (Rank sarcasm aimed at the Privy Council apologists).
The Supreme Court decides on evidence presented to it, in the matter before it. Inadequate evidence leaves you with an inadequate decision. Sorry the truth hurts.
The Privy council do not investigate claims, it decides based on the law and evidence. I still would trust them more at this time than anything local and regional, at this time.
Things will change as a few sneaky politicians landing there one day ( I mean,the big one’s)
One question Cutie Benjamin; if this is your excuse Thirty plus years, after your lost at the Privy Council, then why is a British Citizen, who has being convicted and sentenced to the same prison, in Antigua, being housed presently at the former US Military facility which more, than likely have much, much, much better living conditions, than at 1735?
Please make your argument make sense, Cutie Benjamin.
Ras Smood aka Jumbee_Picknee
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
@Ras Smood, brilliant point.
The evidence presented to the Privy council in 1991 did not provide evidence from professionals (considered by law as experts in their field) that shows the severe, cruel and unusual state and condition the prison and inmate was in that shows the human and constitutional rights of that inmate is being violated.
In this type of argument, a professional medical doctor, psychiatrist, public health expert, etcetera must be used to show the cruelty, unconstitutionality and harms being suffered by the inmate.
I am guessing such evidence was not presented in 1991, was it?
@My way of helping….. Do you somehow think you invented law and common sense? You speak as if since you got a degree you are somehow endowed with a halo to see things that everyone else before had no sense to see.
Newsflash: It is this conceited attitude of yours that is the biggest impediment to your own development and advancement. Unless you change that, you’re going to get nowhere in life, neither in Antigua nor anywhere else you choose to reside.
@wash an Basin, it is common knowledge experts are not regularly used in Antigua and Barbuda as expert witnesses.
Perhaps it is time you start to think how I think by understanding the importance of protecting people’s rights and wanting them to be treated better.
I am willing to bet you $10,000 cash that an expert was not used to establish the inhumane and cruel situation at the prison at that time?
This is not about arrogance but about commonsense. I do not care what you ABLP strategy is to silence, you can not silence me from saying what is morally and legally right.
And yes, I cannot achieve anything in Antigua with this government. So, I will wait. And I will continue running both my offices in the US, that have provided me with what you have labeled the no achievements. I am so blocking my advancement that I am looking to expand both businesses, and let me not let your anger me to mention the finances. I will stay humble.
But nothing I said here was from arrogance. You people ego focuses on your party only never get upset when average people suffer when it could be avoided.
That is my passion, helping folks and forgetting about money. Money has no value to me, I use to give it away when it comes. You need to be like me and be angry when unreasonable and inadequate services are provided to a nation and clients.
I wish there were more like me in that country, imagine the advancement that would have been made.
@My way of helping…I’m a humble Carpenter who can take a project from the surveyors stakes to giving the owner, a Use & Occupancy Permit, as I manage the project. OSHA Certified in Safety & Quality Control(once, and if I decide to sit with FEMA Managers, States Fire Marshall’s etc., and hobnob with these professionals in once per month for about four consecutive months, at an OSHA Facility, I can walk unto any construction job site, if I choose to work for OSHA, and can shut this job site down, using the #PROPER PROTOCOLS of course!
My hobby is FARMING! People say, “you got a green thumb,” nah, I say. I simply understand, the symbiotic Essence, of Nature’s Flora & Fauna.
Common Sense has taught me along the way, to bringing things to fruition…
1…attitude dictates, altitude!
2…humility is not a #State_Of_Mind, it’s a State_of_Being!
I was a #fool once, when I fired my attorney midway through a trial. The experience was great though. Even though, I’m not an attorney, I haven’t lost another case in court since. Common Sense prevailed.
Some of these professionals in Antigua, Barbuda & REDONDA, think everyone threw away COMMON SENSE like a cadaver.
I pray for The Moment In Time, when the MENTAL REVOLUTION ravages the Nation like a Category SEVEN(7) Hurricane immediately followed by an EIGHT point Oh (8.0) Earthquake.
I can die too, in either catastrophe; but, at the very least, I hopefully, that THE PEOPLE who’ll survive do the right thing(s), and get rid of the CROOKS aka Politicians who have not only their boots on the people’s necks but a straight jacket keeping them in place.
Ras Smood aka Jumbee_Picknee
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
Just alot of talk and no action! Before u change the name why don’t u repair the prison first? No one cares about the Damm name!!
So what happened? He’s had ten years. Just the biggest waste of time.
Why did the UK not think the conditions were humane enough for the officer who raped a local woman and is serving his sentence up at the base because he was too good to mix with locals?
Why are politicians blind to everyday situations for long periods of time or have amnesia for just as long ?
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Quoting from a Sentencing Judgement by Justice Morley (A White English Judge serving in the OECS court system)
“15
The Court (Morley J) visited the prison for 2 hours on 22 December 2016, being hosted by Supt Wade, and other officers. The prison is called ‘1735’, as that is when it was ground first used for custody. The facilities appear to date back to the 19th Century. The prison staff do excellent work in very difficult circumstances. The prison seems in keeping with 1867 rather than 2017. Facilities are rudimentary. There is an outside bank of toilets into a pit under corrugated iron. The toilets are about 30m from the kitchens. The prison is overcrowded, holding at least twice as many as it should. Convicted prisoners were in small cells with often 2 or 4 inmates. The remand section in noticeably overcrowded, consisting of cells in an upstairs area where often nine inmates are held in a cell, with only six beds, in poor ventilation, for between 18-20 hours daily, with slopping out required into plastic buckets, lacking any privacy. The potential for the spread of disease is clear. Convicted prisoners are allowed out during daylight hours, and are therefore out of their cells for longer than the remand prisoners, (being at the time of judicial visit, 07.30 to noon), whose condition of incarceration is therefore harsher though they are unconvicted, being legally innocent. Owing to delays in the criminal justice system, some on remand are not dealt with for many years: one inmate had been on remand for 8 years, while it is not unusual to be on remand in these conditions for 3 years or more.”
Is this joker 9 yards serious? He has been a minister of government for all these years, many as attorney General and minister of justice and he has done nothing, yet he have the gall to be now crying crocodile tears.
Please observe the pattern and stay tuned folks….
The public complain about the lack of portable water; and according to Gaston its caused by the UPP sabotuers
The public complain that Saint Johns look like a rundown gettho, and Gastons respose is that some Antiguans are too nasty.
There is an outcry about the rising in crime; Cutie’s answer is that Antigua has the lowest crime rate in the Caribbean, and Gaston thinks its no big deal it was higher under UPP.
The is clear; every event or condition that results from the GOAB incompence is someone elses fault.
Rather than reforming and correcting the conditions at 1776; Cutie is trying to set up the Privy Council as the resposible party.
When the Privy Council ruled against Trevor and Frank, with a ruling that says: all Barbuda land is Crown Land: Cutie and Gaston revelled in only a portion of the ruling.
The Privy Council ruling also clearly says: any Barbudan who has been occupying land or uterlizing the land for economic purposes, and the GOAB wants that land for public purposes; that individual or family has to be compensated.
Cabinet can’t past and Act and hand over land on Barbuda in the name of economic development.
The Privy Council is about to rule against the AG, GOAB (DCA), A and B Airport Authority. So this is about setting up The Privy Council as the boggy man.
Stay Tuned Folks !!!
Well highlighted @ Barbuda J’aime. You explained fully, the sly and duplicitous ways of Benjamin & Browne.
This destructive double act, have always been looking to circumvent the laws of the land when any rulings goes against them.
I couldn’t agree with you more.
BARBUDA FOR BARBUDAN’S …
Blame the Privy Council.Since you have been the Minister with responsibility for the Prison.Could you Ten Yards,point to one damn thing you have done to improve the conditions in that place.You,like Gaston Browne always blaming someone else and not yourselves for anything.LAZY,LAZY,LAZY,TEN YARDS OF CLOTH,LIKE A SPREAD SHEET. ARE YOU RELATED TO THE GOODYEAR BLIMP?
Resort development is the ABLP “ONE TRICK PONY”
VC Bird Sr. initially captured the public imagination fighting for the poor and abused field workers, against the Colonial Syndicate.
VC solidified his reputation as a visionary with a new paradigm by encouraging hotel developments.
Sir Lester who leaned about how Freeport Bahamas was developed through his Bahamian mentor at Michighan.
Since then, resort development has been the economic development model for Antigua which was followed by most of the Eastern Caribbean.
Until we are awkened to understand that we live in a world controled by data; and we start creating a cadre of students who are competent in math as well as at the near genius level.
A prosperous future is in technology and the creative industries.
An Liberta born Antiguan painting currently starts at USD$10,000 and it will only go up and up!!
How many of our students aspire to be data analysts or data engineers, in a world where AI is already playing a dominant role. Take a page from India and Eastern Europe
Is UWI Five Islands ready to produce that level of talent; rather than blue color and grey workers?
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