The Titanic, the central area of ​​the Civil Prison of Port-au-Prince has been renovated and inaugurated, with an area of ​​800m2 the building was damaged by the earthquake of January 12, 2011 and was rehabilitated thanks to the financial support of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The renovations have cost USD$250.000, and lasted eleven months, and have helped to create 700 new places for inmate, the ICRC has also equipped the cells of 115 modules of beds of 6 places each.

A new hydro-power plant provides electricity for all wings of the prison and for administration offices. Basins and showers have been built in the outside courtyards, and sleeping conditions have been improved so as to ensure satisfactory hygiene. The latrines inside the cells have been restored to working order. In addition, the ICRC renovated the electrical system and repainted the interior of the premises.

In cooperation with the prison authorities, the ICRC is organizing a campaign against scabies for the 700 inmates set to be transferred into the refurbished quarters. In addition to receiving treatment, each inmate will be given a personal hygiene kit, an undershirt, a pair of shorts, a bath towel and a sheet.

Riccardo Conti, head of the ICRC delegation in Haiti declared "the inmates are housed in renovated cells, well arranged and more human, their living conditions will be more dignified. The living environment is improved, the security is not neglected" adding that "this should give a tendency for a modernization to a improvement of prisons in Haiti..."

Jean Roland Prévilon Célestin, the Director of the Penitentiary Administration has declared for his part "If we take into account the international standards, there are no prisons in Haiti" recall that a prisoner in Haiti has about half a square meter, while the international standards require 4.5m2. "When we say modernize it is indeed to meet to the standards, to the standards that clearly state how to keep people in jail, and we will not stop there, many other facilities are under rehabilitation and construction, such as : the Civil Prison of Carrefour, of Saint-Marc, the construction of the Civil Prison of Croix-des-Bouquets and the rehabilitation of the Civil Prison of Cap-Haitien" he added.

The Civil Prison of Croix-des-Bouquets is a project funded by the Canadian government, this will be a model prison, built according to international standards and with a capacity of 750 inmates.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1112-haiti-prisons-national-penitentiary-05-m2-per-inmate.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/article-1069-haiti-prison-rehabilitation-de-la-prison-de-port-au-prince.html (in french)

HL/ HaitiLibre