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Dear Editor,
Have you ever wondered what happens in Hell? Well, the most suitable place to experience this phenomenon is right here in Guyana, at the Brickdam Lock-ups.
Words cannot explain the stench and filth that one has to endure while staying at this ‘weekend hell hole’. More importantly is the fact that those who have spent time there are at risk of possibly being exposed to a new form of disease that may be worse than leprosy and tuberculosis.
The fact that the only source of light is a street bulb which pushes enough heat to fry an egg, day or night, is enough evidence that the facility is in dire need of more lights in order to keep the environment safe and clean. There are no facilities for one to ease one’s bowels, forcing the prisoners to use empty food boxes to defecate.
These boxes are then left in the unoccupied cells, thus forcing everyone to the front of the lock-up and creating a sardine-like effect at the entrance similar to the days of slavery across the Atlantic Ocean.
At the entrance inside the lock-up there is a small hole, which one is forced to use in order to urinate because the toilets that were provided are now nine feet high in human waste, and I was made to understand that this hasn’t been cleaned for at least three or more years, or even longer.
We must not forget also, that humans are forced to digest whatever food or water is brought by their families in this same environment, where it is hard to breathe this foul air.
If you think that your bed at home is no good, then try getting some rest on the cold concrete with the stench of filth constantly engulfing you. It’s only fair to say now, without fear of contradiction, that the Brickdam Lock-ups is a violation of all human rights and needs to be blown completely off the face of this globe.
In other words, it’s worse than a German concentration camp.
There are two reasons why I opted to write this letter; one is merely to inform the Guyana Human Rights Association of this form of mental and physical torture that is taking place in Guyana, and the second requires a diplomatic interference and much desired help for an inmate who is suffering under the most unhealthy conditions for more that 55 days….counting.
His ancestors have fought alongside ranks of the British Army in many wars and are even said to be the hardest working employees at the Royal Military Academy at Sand Hurst today, the Gurkas.
His name is Rajan Karki, an East Indian, and he is from Nepal. The most ironic thing is that Rajan Karki bears a remarkable resemblance to that of another Nepalese national that trained in the same platoon at Sand Hurst with me, Soumya. Had he been a few pounds lighter and well shaven, then I would have been fooled. I am positive that if I was in a position as such in Nepal, then Soumya or his Government would have done their best to help me on my way home.
It’s not quite clear how he found himself in this part of the world, but from what I had gathered, he was touring the Caribbean when he lost his travelling documents along with a few hundred United States dollars at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
After the immigration officers realised his documents were missing, they took him to the CID Headquarters, and from there he was transferred to the Brickdam Lock-up almost three months ago.
There hasn’t been any diplomatic dialogue between this Government and any member of his country’s Government because, once again, the immigration department has failed to do their job and it’s not in their best interest to try either.
Dorian Massay