PHILIPSBURG:--- On March 17th, 2023, the Court of First Instance issued a ruling that declared that inmates must get medical attention by a doctor within 24 hours after arriving at the prison unless they were visited by a doctor prior to their arrival at the prison. The court further declared that a fine would be imposed should there be non-compliance with the aforementioned verdict.
According to Attorney at Law Ms. Sjamira Roseburg, inmates are still not receiving medical attention within 24 hours of their arrival at the Pt. Blanche prison. While she has emailed various members and personnel of the Ministry of Justice to rectify this most unfortunate situation regarding the violation of the court’s verdict, her efforts have so far proven to be fruitless as no one at the Ministry of Justice has responded to her emails. Ms. Roseburg also stated that the inmates feel that their health and safety are in jeopardy due to the fact that the prison nurse is not taking their medical issues seriously.
The Ministry of Justice has stated that inmates will be examined by a doctor prior to their departure to the prison, but that has not materialized which furthers the noncompliance of the court’s ruling of March 17th, 2023. Attorney at Law Roseburg is also concerned that the fines attached to the court’s ruling could have dire financial consequences at a time when our government is in a worrisome financial state. She would like to remind the Ministry of Justice that getting proper medical attention is a basic human right, and according to the Court of First Instance, that has to be extended to the inmates at Pt. Blanche prison post haste.
