By Ramatoulie Jawo
The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Human Rights and Constitutional Matters released a report on Monday that found that some police cells and detention centers in the country are in “abhorrent and unhygienic” conditions.
The Standing Committee on Human Rights and Constitutional Matters, in fulfilling its oversight mandate, embarked on a nationwide tour to examine the conditions of detention centers and prisons across the country.
This is the Committee’s first field engagement with stakeholders and institutions in the Sixth Legislature, building on the previous committee’s rollout in the Fifth Legislature.
Hon. Suwaibou Touray, a member of the committee who presented the report said phase one of their tour targeted major detention centres in Banjul, Kanifing Municipality, and the West Coast Region (WCR).
Hon. Touray said the second visit covered facilities in the North Bank Region (NBR) Central River Region (CRR) Upper River Region (URR) and some parts of the West Coast Region (WCR) targeting detention centres and the only prison centre beyond the Greater Banjul Area which is Janjanbureh prison.
“The Committee observed several anomalies in the abhorrent conditions of the facilities. Most of the police stations visited had cells that were inhabitable due to poor ventilation, unhygienic, and broken water pipes Poor ventilation was particularly noted in most of the stations, especially in Farafenni and Basse Police Stations.
“There were few facilities with improved holding cells such as Kaur and Bansang Police Stations. Furthermore, the absence of prisoners’ diets in most of the facilities visited was also noted,” he said.
He said in those facilities prison officers contribute to catering for themselves and feeding the detainees.
Hon. Touray further said there was also a violation of prisoners’ access to justice rights In Janjanbureh and Mile 2 prison.
“The Committee heard from inmates who complained of going to court over six years without a verdict,” Hon. Touray revealed.
The Committee recommended for adequate resources be provided to stations especially those at the borders.
The Committee further recommended for improvement of all detention centres with enough space and ventilation.