Inmates and staff at Westgate Correctional Facility remained without running water, including that needed to flush toilets, over the weekend and The Royal Gazette understands that some inmates refused to be locked in their cells.

The Ministry of Justice said on Friday night that the water issue, said to be related to conditions associated with the facility’s location on reclaimed land, had been restored.

But a source close to the prison told the Gazette that further issues arose Saturday and continued yesterday.

The source said that some inmates refused to be confined to their cells on Saturday night while unable to flush their toilets and are requesting that Keeva Joell-Benjamin, the Commissioner of Corrections, attend the prison to address them.

The Government did not respond to questions by press time.

The source said: “The water is still not on. The men of the medium housing units have refused to be locked in their cells for the night as is normal procedure. Prisoners are normally secured from 7.30pm to 7.30am.

“They are demanding that the commissioner come and address the prison population.

“To date, no senior prison official has addressed the residents of the issues, timeline to resolution, or to simply thank them for their patience.

“It is against prison policy to assign a prisoner to a cell that doesn't have a functional toilet or sink, and yet for the past four days, men have been getting locked in cells that would not be considered functional.

“There have been no acts of violence or vandalism. Tensions are high, but the men have remained peaceful.”

The source said yesterday that questions should be asked about the conditions of the facility.

“Those conditions have a direct relationship to the results, or lack thereof, that is seen in the effort to rehabilitate.

“How are men going to be in a mindset to be rehabilitated and educated when there are constant issues like this? When they can't flush their toilets or shower.”

A spokeswoman for the ministry confirmed on Friday evening that the water service had been restored.

A spokeswoman said then: “The Department of Public Lands and Buildings, working with its plumbing contractor, has completed the necessary repairs and is monitoring the repaired line to ensure the joints remain secure. Once confirmed, the area will be concreted.

“The issue is understood to be related to conditions associated with the facility’s location on reclaimed land.

“Contingency measures were put in place in co-ordination with the Department of Corrections to support essential activities and maintain continuity of operations while repairs were carried out.

“The department will continue to monitor the situation to ensure the water supply remains stable.”