One survivor of the March 3 prison riot is thanking God for saving his life during the ordeal that claimed the lives of 17 other inmates.

Murder accused Errol Kesney took the stand at the Commission of Inquiry on Thursday, one week after the disturbances, and repeatedly credited God for his survival.

“I see death, is God save me sir,” the injured Kesney told the COI as he reminisced on what he said was a near death experience for him.

His recount of what transpired was similar to that of the first witness, Dwayne Lewis. Kesney claimed too that no assistance was rendered by the prison, police or fire officials to save those who died from the deadly blaze despite the loud cries for help from the inmates.

“I was in a corner praying and that’s how I survived,” Kesney said as he insisted that no attempt was made to put out the fire.

He said the only persons rendering assistance were fellow inmates.

Asked what he think went wrong on the morning of March 3, Kesney said “I think the devil was busy.”

He was the second witness to take the stand and claimed that he had been in the Camp Street Jailhouse since May 2015.

Kesney recalled several horror stories behind the walls of the jail. He said there are frequent confrontation among prisoners but denied that there were gangs.

Among his shocking revelations was that inmates are only allowed one hour sunlight on Mondays only and are kept on lock-down for the rest of the week.

He said the only other time a prisoner is allowed out in the yard is possibly on his court day, for those on remand and on Sundays and Thursdays to go to the Chapel for approximately half hour.

Kesney, a remand prisoner himself, was not generally happy with the treatment he received within the prisons, claiming that months after he made a request for toilet tissue and soap, he was given the articles.

Among his recommendations are for better food to be served and better accommodation and treatment of inmates.

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