Lawyers representing 25 inmates of the Golden Grove Prison who were injured in this week's prison riot have begun their litigation against the State.
After an emergency sitting at the San Fernando High Court which ended last evening, Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh granted approval to the men’s legal team to revisit their clients today to take photographs of their injuries. The meeting is expected to take place between 2 and 5 pm today.
As part of his ruling, Boodoosingh also granted their legal team permission to file a judicial review against the Prison Service challenging its decision to bar them from taking the photographs during their initial visit on Thursday afternoon.
A date for the next hearing of the case will be set after the lawyers file their substantive case. The prisoners’ legal team includes former attorney general Anand Ramlogan, SC, Gerald Ramdeen, Kent Samlal and Varun Debideen. The Commissioner of Prisons was represented by Neil Byam.
The riot, the largest since two major incidents in 2009, reportedly began on Tuesday night while prison officers were searching cells for contraband items.
By the time the the disturbance was brought under control, a dozen inmates had to be taken to hospital for various injuries.
Prison sources said when the prison officers returned to the cells the following morning to deliver the inmates’ breakfast another riot erupted. During the melee 13 more prisoners were wounded while five prison officers had to seek medical attention. The riot was eventually quelled around midday on Wednesday.
The prisoners were taken to various hospitals across east Trinidad but have since returned to their cells at the prison. No more disturbances have been reported since.
The wounded prisoners, 22 of whom are on remand for murder, are all Muslims.
In a telephone interview with this newspaper last night, one of the injured prisoners said that despite being heavily medicated he and his fellow inmates will still fast for Ramadan.
He said the photographs will assist in their lawsuit against the prisoners officers for assault and battery as it would clearly show the extent of their injuries, which include swollen eyes, concussions and multiple cuts and bruises. None, however, suffered any broken bones.
In a press release issued yesterday, the Prison Officers Association secretary Gerald Gordon denied that the incident was based on the mens’ religion.
“Officers of the T&T Prison Service continue to conduct their duties without prejudice to any particular inmate’s religious beliefs. In fact, as much as is practical and within the tenets of maintaining safety and security, inmates are encouraged to hold on to and even rekindle their religious beliefs and practices,” Gordon said.