Inmates and staff at Westgate Correctional Facility are having to flush toilets manually due to a problem with the electricity supply.

The water pumps at the Dockyard jail are believed to have stopped working a week ago. Yesterday, Robert Horton, the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Public Safety, said: ?The water situation at Westgate Correctional Facility remains unstable.

?There is no shortage of water; instead, there is a problem with the electrical service for the pumps.?

He said staff from the Ministry of Works and Engineering and Housing, along with technicians from Clearwater Systems, had spent yesterday trying to fix the problem.

?It is hoped that the electricity supply will be restored fully early next week,? he said.

In the meantime, the system is being manually bypassed to allow water to areas throughout the prison at 5.30 a.m., 10.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. each day.

?Inmates and staff are helping with the dipping of water for cooking and flushing,? added Mr. Horton. ?Additionally, inmates are issued three bottles of water per day.?

He said Hubert Dean, the Commissioner of Corrections, had visited staff and thanked the correctional officers and inmates for their understanding and co-operation during a difficult period.

A friend of a prisoner, who asked not to be named, told : ?It?s been over a week that this has been going on.

?As far as I understand, they are bringing in drinking water. We are concerned for all who are up there.?