Central East Correctional Centre began on Monday morning at breakfast and will continue until “all demands” are met by jail officials.
Schofield says the the strike involves inmates at five wings in the jail. Among the inmates’ demands, Schofield says includes free bottled drinking water as they claim the jail’s tap water is not drinkable.
They claim the water “smells like urine” and also causes “itchiness and rashes” after showers and handwashing.The inmates claim if they want bottled water — which is provided to correctional officers — they must pay $1.20 for a 500 millilitre bottle.The Ministry of the Solicitor General said staff are working with the inmates on all of their concerns and is following policies and procedures when inmates.