Spencer to fix water problem at Horizon Remand Centre
DESCRIBING THE water supply system at the Horizon Adult Remand Centre as filthy and in bad shape, state minister in the Ministry of National Security Rudyard Spencer has indicated that something will be done immediately.
“I’m going to try and advocate that something be done today. At least, if you are in this situation, you must have potable water, and you must have water that is sufficient for you,” Spencer told prison officials during his tour of the facility on Spanish Town Road, yesterday.
The water supply at the facilities was described as inconsistent by Acting Superintendent Louis Ferrigon, who said that the issue was a major concern.
“We have to put it in a tank and dispense it through a pump to the building. We are in dialogue with the NWC (National Water Commission) now, trying to find out why we don’t have consistent running water because we do need to have consistent running water,” he told The Gleaner. “We have facilities that house 1,056 inmates, plus officers amounting to maybe 1,200 per day. We need to have constant running water. We can’t rely on a truck to deliver water to us,” said Ferrigon.
When The Gleaner news team checked with the NWC, we were told by the Corporate Public Relations Department that they had never received a complaint from the Horizon Remand Centre as it related to the facility not having a consistent water supply. But the utility company confirmed that there were ongoing roadworks in the area that might affect water supply to some customers.
“I just confirmed with Mr Buchanan (Charles Buchanan, corporate public relations manager). We don’t have any knowledge. It has not been brought to our attention, so we are not sure what is happening. We have never had anybody calling – never,” said a representative from the Corporate Public Relations Department of the NWC.