Relatives worried about health of three

Relatives of the three Vincentian men ordered to be extradited to the British Virgin Islands, have expressed concern about the men’s health.{{more}}

The three men: Dexter Chance, also known as Dexter Michael of Layou, Gareth Mc Dowall of Calliaqua and Carlos Sutherland of Lowmans Windward were committed to prison on Friday June 5, 2009 to await extradition to the British Virgin Islands (BVI). They are wanted in the BVI to answer to cocaine importation charges.

The men are being held at the Biabou Police Station.

Naverne Joseph, Gareth McDowall’s sister, told Searchlight that she and other family members of the three men are saddened by the treatment being received by the men at the Biabou Police Station. According to her, the men are being fed salty meals which are dangerous to their health and are confined to their cells without being given the opportunity to exercise.

“I feel very bad, I can’t even express myself,” lamented Joseph, in relation to her brother’s situation.

Joseph said that when she, her aunts and McDowall’s girlfriend visited him at Biabou last week Wednesday. According to Joseph, McDowall, who she said shares a cell with Dexter Chance, was observed by his aunt to be eating a meal on a bowl cover. “They get no plate or bowl, just a round bowl cover.” He told her (the aunt) that both of them using the same spoon.“That’s not decent!” Joseph declared.

Joseph added that the men have complained about the saltiness of the meals, especially their daily supper of corned beef and bread, which McDowall reportedly has stopped eating because of his hypertension. “He says that like almost every afternoon, he has to go to his bed just like that (without eating) because of the beef. He told my aunt it’s the same thing with the other guys (Chance and Sutherland).”

Joseph added that on one occasion, her brother was admitted to the hospital because of his hypertension. She said that Sutherland’s girlfriend related to her that he (Sutherland) has become hypertensive since his stay in prison.

Joseph also explained that when she last saw her brother he was very pale. “His hands were white like they didn’t have any blood. He said the reason why they were so white is because he ain’t getting to move and he ain’t getting any sunlight,” she said. Joseph said that McDowall also complained of feeling very weak and said that the medication given to him makes him very ill. “He is complaining about his stomach paining him,” she said.

She added that the relatives of the men are afraid for the men’s lives. She said they have taken the matter to the Human Rights Association. Joseph said that McDowall spoke to Superintendent of Prisons Eric Rodriguez, but nothing has changed.

When Searchlight contacted Rodriguez, he said that the best person to speak to was Commissioner of Police (COP) Keith Miller. Efforts to contact Miller were futile.

However when Searchlight spoke to McDowall’s Lawyer Kay Bacchus Browne, she was mostly concerned about the men being confined without exercise or sunlight. Bacchus Browne said that she too was referred to COP Miller when she spoke to Rodriguez on the matter.

“I cannot see why it cannot be solved by Superintendent Rodriguez, when he is in charge of them (prisoners),” Bacchus Browne said. She said she has left messages for the COP but has not yet received an answer, but hopes to have the matter resolved soon.