Inmates refuse food at HMP Northward
(CNS): Three prisoners housed in HMP Northward’s best facility have begun refusing food, prison officials have said. It is not clear if this is a hunger strike to draw attention to a specific grievance or just because of the poor standard of food being served. According to a short release from the prison, the men began refusing food Monday evening, but have not made a formal compliant.
Prison management said that the inmates are being housed at the Enhanced Rehabilitation Unit (ERU), which “is the very best that that HMCIPS has to offer”.
They were moved there along with other prisoners to address the internal crowing at the jail and protect prisoners from the spread of COVID-19 by spacing them out.
The unit is usually home to inmates who are working in the community and transitioning out of prison. But management said it was made clear to the men when they moved to this unit that it would not include opportunities to begin community placements because all community work is currently on hold due to the coronavirus curfews.
The prison said it was managing their refusal to eat the food provided in accordance with internal policy and procedures, and management was disappointed the inmates had not used the channels provided or utilized the internal procedures to raise their complaints.
“Communication channels between inmates and prison officers remain open and active, and feedback from prisoners, as always, is fully encouraged. It is disappointing that the prisoners did not raise any concerns they have through the internal complaints processes,” officials said in the release. “The option exists for prisoners to raise issues of concern to the Independent Monitoring Board and they chose not to do this either.”
This situation is being driven by just the three prisoners and does not involve any of the other residents, the prison management added.
- Fascinated
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- Afraid
Wow, their hunger strike lasted one whole day before they ended it. Must have heard that little growl in their stomach from their one-day fast when they smelled the chicken passing by their rooms…. lol…
What a “tempest in a tea kettle”. Lol
They put a little oxtail gravy on their rice and beans and it was all good.
It must be something else besides the food. Communication in the prison is not as they want us to believe. The majority of prison officers are only there for the big dollars they are getting as salaries and overtime so that they can send back home. Draining Government coffers doing nothing there besides playing dominoes, watching tv and getting fat.They do not care about the prisoners which are mostly our own people. The only ones they care about there are the ones from their own home country. We need to hire our own prison and police officers so that Caymanians can get a piece of the pie too.
That is such a stupid, inflammatory statement. I assume you’ve never had any dealings with the Prison. “A piece of the pie” is very indicative
Caymanians don’t want to be prison officers or police officers. No money in it and no status. And they are both disciplined services where you actually need to turn up and be on time regularly.
They do it because they know food is available. But make it be real hunger and no food to fall back on when they cave in…trust me, yah eat yah own sh** when that kinda hunger hit ya…try go sit down bout hunger strike chhhh
I get to understand from a reliable source that they are doing it because the USA let out prisoners due to the pandemic; these are hoping for the same treatment. Let me tell you one thing, when TRUE hunger hit them they would eat garbage if they had to. Very few men are strong enough to truly go on a hunger strike…believe that. In the end you just feel stupid and look stupid while that stew chicken gravy running down your chin….wait them out. Trust me, they’ll eat.
And from what I have seen, most of them have been rearrested for more crimes!! So, that soon stop.
They should have my wife cook for them; that would rehabilitate them real quick and prevent recidivism.
why are the prisoners and guard not wearing a mask. when cmr was filming they were closer than 6 feet the prisoners were close to the guard and one other prison. Sandra herself had no mask and was close to them. are they exempt
If covid was a person…. SH
maybe they too are fed-up with the lockdown??
😂 👍
They are incarcerated for a reason. In a different life they could check-in to the ritz and get the a la carte menu. Disgraceful when there are many people here struggling to get any food. Let them starve if they choose to.
To be fair every day for a Prisoner is “lock down”. That’s what happens when you get sent to Prison.
Can his meal please be given to someone on the outside who hasnt been getting 3 meals a day during lockdown?
Prisoner goon food strikes all the time, usually lasts two days or until they realize they not getting their own way or they smell the oxtail. It was a silly move by 3 prisoner, no news here trust me
So, the guys who society needs a break from are on a hunger strike. No doubt it will be over some petty, unimportant “issue”. Might save the Government some money at a time when the economy needs a boost. Time they stopped being so self absorbed, took stock of their situation and work on the issues which put them there in the first place. The Prison has enough to deal with without this nonsense. The “Hunger Strikers” will be eating all sorts !!
“…the Enhanced Rehabilitation Unit (ERU), which “is the very best that HMCIPS has to offer”.”
I am made to understand that residence in the ERU comes with access to the kitchen, where all those photos were taken by the UK Prisons Inspectorate of, for example, dozens of frozen chickens ‘defrosting’ in a tub of water. When one moves into ERU one gains the ability to cook one’s own food but also becomes privy to the appalling standard of food served to the other prisoners – which, of course, any ERU prisoner is already familiar with, but they hope it isn’t as bad as they think it is – then get to ERU and find out it is, if not worse.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this was as simple as a refusal to eat the food available there. It isn’t safe, it isn’t remotely anything food should be, no matter who is being fed. Corned beef over noodles is not spaghetti bolognese. Call it all slop or make it actual food.
They damn lucky to get cooked food at all. I can see you would have a hard time in lockup, lol. Nobody to pamper or pander to you there. Have you any idea what prisoners eat in the States? Shit on toast is what it looks like. Stale bread, cold porridge, mystery meat, brown water for coffee…These guys are lucky to get their same local food, cooked for them no less! I have never heard that the quality of the food at our prisons was an issue. I have personal knowledge of the food at Fairbanks, and it is big portions, fresh meat and vegetables, nothing at all for them to complain about. And nothing wrong with corned beef over noodles, it’s a local thing, you wouldn’t understand.
Well aren’t you a piece of work. I could respond to every one of your sentences but I won’t. Good luck in life.
Wow, 23 people don’t think prisoners deserve actual food. Only 2 do. Very sad. They’re not all gang members you know. Good people make mistakes too. And no, I have not been a resident.
Unfortunately I spent time at Northward, i was released in April. I made a mistake and paid for it, lesson learned. one thing I will say, anyone who says the food is “appalling” has never tasted it and fortunately, hasn’t been in my predicament. I was genuinely surprised at the quantity and quality of food provided. I have a medical requirement and it was met. The food was varied, wholesome and well cooked. The guys at ERU not only get offered this food, they also have access to their own food being handed in. Now they’re not happy at that ? What do they want ?
The food is pretty good there…
They’re not exactly Bobby Sands or Raymond Hughes.
Let them starve. I would not concern myself about them.
they didn’t look worse for where pretty healthy
I wonder why they’re refusing to eat. I don’t believe they’re refusing food for no reason.
Because they are trying to weasel their way into getting an early release. In this matter they can dream on or just plain forget abut it. Not today bobo. Eat up or shut up.
they think this going to go like the states, early release, what a mess
How sad. Ah well, thank the inmates for the 6 extra daily meals for Meals on Wheels.
They will eat when they are hungry
Lol! That is exactly what my mother told us when we didn’t want what she cooked. When we got hungry enough we would hog it down so fast.
They overfed anyhow!!
FFS there are people going hungry who have lost their jobs and people are having to rely heavily on the NAU. You do the crime you do the time. You get fed and a roof over your head whilst you do out your punishment. In these uncertain times we don’t want to hear this stupidity. Give their meals to people who need it if they are going to be so difficult. If this is a plea for early release forget it bobo.
No problem. Let them starve.
Good. Alden’s people are starving, more for them.