As over-crowdedness of the prison remains a national emergency cross the country, the prison superintendent of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, Major Tom Butler Karmala, has confirmed that some inmates are sleeping in the bathroom because the prison no longer has any space to host inmates.
Major Karmala disclosed this information at the formal opening of the August A.D. 2023 term of Court opening.
“The problem of the prison is not expansion, but rather, over-crowdedness,” something he said they have always complained to the Justice Ministry but the “Justice Ministry continues to pay deaf ears to them, leaving the heavy weight on them”.
“The Buchanan Central prison was constructed to host 47-50 inmates, but the prison is now hosting 125 and it is increasing per day, which is totally out of our control.”
“15-16 inmates are sleeping in one bedroom and some even sleep in the bathroom.”
The Buchanan Central Prison Superintendent called on the County Administration to pay them a visit and see the unbearable conditions that inmates and prison authorities are faced with.
Expressing his disappointment, he said the prison lacks medication and whenever inmates are taken to hospital, health care providers will give prescriptions of drugs which they as prison authorities would have to take the initiative to purchase with their already little salary, all in the name of saving lives, and there is still no national budget for that.
The Prison Superintendent praised the Grand Bassa County local Bar for always identifying with them at the prison during their time of need.
Also speaking on the same over-crowdedness of the prison, the Public Defender of Grand Bassa County, Cllr. Aaron Kartee, said the issue of pre-trial detention is a national emergency and it needs urgent attention by justice actors.
He revealed that the release of some pre-detainees who have over stayed is very difficult because their crimes are capital offenses and whenever he files the necessary motions, it is denied, but he called on the Judge, Joe S. Barkon, to use his discretion.
Public defender Kartee added that if the prison is to be decongested, cases should be heard speedily and those who are held for minor offenses should be released.
Meanwhile, the Grand Bassa County local Bar of the Liberian National Bar Association, some months ago, gave solar power to the prison and on Monday, August 14, 2023, during the formal opening of Court, they also gave two new sewing machines to the prison.
This local Bar, according to the prison superintendent, is always doing extremely well for the prison by providing needs whenever they are called upon.
