~ Wants to meet with Members of Parliament. ~
PHILIPSBURG: --- Prisoners at Pointe Blanche Prison are currently on strike. They demand to meet with Members of Parliament to address the issues affecting them. The strike began on November 18th, 2024.
SMN News has been reliably informed that the prisoners are contesting the unfair treatment they are confronted with at the House of Detention on St. Maarten.
According to information provided to SMN News, a prisoner who has a genetic disease and is going blind began the protest since he was denied the opportunity to go home on an Ankle Bracelet.
Some of the prisoners' concerns are the unfair treatment they are receiving and the overpopulation of the Pointe Blanche House of Detention. They also demand that they get the same rights as the other ABC islands, such as conjugal visits and access to cellular phones, since prisoners in Curacao are allowed to have cellular phones and conjugal visits. They intend to demand that their human rights are respected while ensuring doctors are available at the facility on weekends.
Research conducted by SMN News shows that the prisoner in question was born in St. Maarten but has no legal status on the island.
SMN News research shows the undocumented prisoner who has been in contact with the Minister of Justice Lyndon Lewis since he took office in May is a descendant of the Dominican Republic, and that country refused to accept the prisoner since he was not born in their country.
On Wednesday, the inmates sent a letter to the Justice Committee of Parliament outlining their grievances and the urgent need for better rehabilitation programs.
In their letter to the Justice Committee of Parliament, they stated that they have grown increasingly frustrated with the abuse of power by the prosecuting authorities and the neglect by government representatives.
“It has become clear that our voices are often unheard and our needs overlooked. As a result, many of us are struggling with inadequate mental and physical healthcare that hampers our ability to rehabilitate and reintegrate into society.”
They believe that effective rehabilitation is crucial for reducing recidivism and ensuring one can successfully transition back into the community. However, the current state of programs and services provided to the inmates falls short of what is necessary.
They ask parliamentarians and relevant authorities to meet with them urgently to address these pressing issues. They are seeking an open
dialogue where they could discuss their experiences and advocate for legislative changes that will benefit rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
SMN News also confirmed that MP Sjamira Roseburg, the Chair of the Justice Committee of Parliament, has already responded to the letter sent today by the Prison Inmates Association through the interim director of Pointe Blanche Prison.
In response to the interim director, Roseburg outlined the course of action she intends to take as Chair of the Justice Committee.
Those include a work visit to the Pointe Blanche House of Detention, where Members of Parliament could gain firsthand insight into the concerns of the inmates.
The Member of Parliament, who also represents the Prison Inmate Association in the past, wants a tour of the facility to learn about the prisoners' living conditions and the overall management of the House of Detention.
The Justice Committee also wants to meet with the Prison Inmates Association to discuss the proposed agenda points. This would allow the association to express its concerns and make suggestions, engage in open and respectful dialogue, and make suggestions.
After that, the Justice Committee wants to visit the facility again to present a report that will be prepared after the initial visit.
This report will be presented to parliament for future discussions.
The Prison Inmate Association has since expressed gratitude for the response they received from Roseburg on Wednesday.
