Barbara Gayle, STAR Writer

There have been mixed reactions by some Jamaicans to the announcement this week by the British Prime Minister that his government will donate £25 million to assist in building a prison in Jamaica.

Plans will also be put in place for Jamaicans in England serving prison sentences to be sent here to serve the remainder of their sentences. These are the prisoners who would have faced deportation at the end of their sentences.

High crime rate

A policeman who was over heard discussing the matter said he was concerned that the money was not donated to crime-fighting.

"Look how Jamaica's crime rate is so high. The money could help the police force to fight crime," the policeman said.

"Yes, that is true," one of his colleagues responded.

A policewoman, who joined the conversation, said she was thinking why the prisoners should benefit from the donation when they have done such wicked acts.

"We all know of the horrible crimes these prisoners commit," the policewoman said.

"Look how many police stations lack basic facilities and these prisoners are getting international attention."

Commenting further, she said, as far as she was concerned, the prisoners should all rot in jail.

"Prisoners are human beings, too, and have you forgotten that there are innocent persons in prison too?" another policewoman said.

The policewoman disclosed that she had a cousin serving 15 years in prison because he was framed.

"I know as a fact that my cousin's girlfriend framed him because she wanted to get rid of him. She made up with her new boyfriend, who is a policeman, that he had a gun. The woman and the policeman lied that he threatened them with a gun and fired shots at the policeman and ran away. My cousin was subsequently arrested and charged. He was convicted of gun offences because of the vicious lies they told on my cousin. So is not everyone in prison is guilty of the offence," she added.

Mistreatment

"I have been listening to all of you, but have you ever considered that a person should not be mistreated in prison?," a policeman asked.

He pointed out that taking away your freedom and sending you to prison was the real punishment.

"The conditions in the prisons are filthy and prisoners need to be rehabilitated, or else, when they return to society, they are going to be more wicked and dangerous. Prisoners do have rights," he said. His colleagues all agreed with him.

Prisoners do have rights under the Constitution of Jamaica. Section 17 (1) of the Constitution says, "No one should be subjected to torture or to inhumane or degrading punishment or other treatment."