AN INMATE at the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre, Spanish Town, told the Commission of Inquiry probing disturbances there last month that he purchased four ratchet knives for $800 from a warder, known as "Ratbat", two days before the mass beating of hundreds of prisoners.
The inmate who gave testimony before the commission yesterday, said the warder brought 12 knives into the prison on May 19, the day he made his purchase.
"Mi know it illegal but from warder sell mi, mi haffi buy it," said inmate number seven, under cross-examination from Jacqueline Cummings, attorney-at-law representing the correctional services.
When asked why he needed four knives, the prisoner, who started a 12-year prison term in 1996, and who was incarcerated on two previous occasions, said he bought them for his friends so they could protect themselves.
"Yuh haffi defend yuh self inna prison, yuh caan mek soldier and warder kill yuh," he said while adding he also needed the weapons to protect himself from fellow inmates.
The prisoner, who appeared on crutches and his left leg in a cast, said his leg was broken when a warder known as Mr. James used a piece of board to beat him.
Justice Ellis was told by the inmate the beatings were planned from as far back as May 4 when a concert was held inside the facility. He said at that time threats were issued by some warders who said they had "certain man dem waan kill".
A warder known only as Gilbert was again named by inmates yesterday as the man at the forefront of the beatings. One prisoner, apparently worried about his safety, had to be persuaded to name Gilbert as the person who abused him.
Inmate number eight who is housed on the new cell block said he was beaten by Gilbert and an overseer called "Babyface" for about 30 minutes. During that time, he said, a CD player he had in his cell was smashed.
And inmate number nine who limped to the witness stand yesterday said a large stone which he used as a stool inside his cell was hoisted and dropped on to his foot by a warder during the fracas when inmates supposedly threw faeces on soldiers and correctional officers to prevent them from searching their cells.
All inmates testifying yesterday denied cells were searched. They pointed instead to the systematic beating they had to endure for more than two days, with some of them still to receive proper medical attention, six weeks after the incident.
Meantime, it was disclosed that grocery items like bread, biscuit and sugar, and drugs such as ganja, could be purchased inside the prison.
