Have no fear to appear before the Commission -CoI Chairman

"Go and spread the word, they need not have any fear in appearing before the Commission", Justice Patterson said, as he sought to reassure Morgan that steps are in place to guard against any victimisation.

Have no fear to appear before the Commission   -CoI Chairman

Following concerns expressed by prisoner, Basil Morgan, that there is a fear of being victimised for appearing before the Prison Unrest Commission of Inquiry, Chairman of the Commission, Justice James Patterson made it clear that prisoners should have no fear in coming before the Commission.

“Go and spread the word, they need not have any fear in appearing before the Commission”, Justice Patterson said, as he sought to reassure Morgan that steps are in place to guard against any victimisation.

The prisoner, Basil Morgan, who is currently behind bars on a murder charge, told the Commission that many prisoners may not want to appear before the Commission because they are afraid of being “further victimised”.

He said he believes that he was victimised previously because he has been waiting five years for his trial to get going.

Commissioner, Merle Mendonca, also reassured the prisoner that the Commission is actively discussing ways of ensuring prisoners are protected from any form of victimisation.

A relieved Basil Morgan, told the Commission that he would appear again before the Commission if there is a need.

During his testimony on Monday afternoon, the murder accused also told the Commission that the seizure of cellphones and marijuana was not really what led to the protests. He said searches and seizures were carried out regularly, “so if that was the case, we would be having many more protests”.

He maintained that the protests were started to get the media’s attention to the long delays in prisoners having their cases heard in the courts.

Screen Shot 2016-03-14 at 1.32.19 PMMorgan also told the Commission that on the morning of the deadly unrest, he found it strange that there was a prison officer with a tablet video recording all of the activities on that day.

He said he had never seen that before. And he also testified that when the fire started, some prisoners complained that water had been cut off to the showers and pipes in the buildings and he does not believe that prisoners were the ones responsible for that. Morgan fought back tears as he explained that many prisoners have been waiting too long to have their trials heard.

The Commission of Inquiry hearings will continue on Tuesday morning. During the afternoon session, the Commission is expected to pay a visit to the Camp Street jail.

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