By the first week of July, all of Her Majesty’s Prison 1735 will have pipe-borne water.
Superintendent of the Prison, Albert Wade has welcomed the progress made, noting that the lack of running water has negatively impacted the efficient functioning of the prison for years.
The female and juvenile block along with other parts of the prison already have water flowing through their pipes, and the final laying of pipes on the prison compound should be completed in quick order as the majority of the more difficult preparatory work will be completed by the end of this week.
Special Projects Coordinator within the Ministry of Works and Housing Phillip Isaacs, said that once all the pipes are laid, work on other parts of the prison, particularly the temporary kitchen area can be completed. He noted that there are plans to also build a cistern large enough to supply the prison with water when water supplied by the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) is not available.
Mr. Isaacs noted that this is necessary since the prison experiences the same challenges that the rest of the island faces with the rationing of the water by APUA.
Superintendent Wade is optimistic that construction work that has stalled in other parts of the prison will resume shortly, as there is still much to be done to improve the conditions for the staff and inmates within the penal facility.
The water pipes are being laid by inmates with the help, and under the supervision of the staff of the Ministry of Works and Housing.
(PRESS RELEASE)
