THE INCREASING number of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) cases in the island's prisons is causing the Department of Correctional Services much distress.
"It is alarming!" declared Commissioner of Corrections, Lt. Col. John Prescod yesterday.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Hilton Kingston Hotel the Commissioner said there was hardly anything the authorities could do to address the matter.
"I remember in 1997 what happened when I suggested condoms be distributed," said Lt. Col. Prescod. While not giving clear data on the apparent increase, the Commissioner said prison doctors were kept busy each day dealing with the Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).
In March it was reported 12 new cases of HIV/AIDS were discovered at the St. Catherine District Prison following a screening of more than 90 inmates.
Last year, within a month of receiving humanitarian pardon from Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke, three AIDS-stricken prisoners died. The prisoners were serving time for offences such as rape, indecent assault, larceny and drug possession.
National Security and Justice Minister, K.D. Knight, said recently that as part of an attempt to contain the spread of HIV and AIDS in the island's prisons, the Ministry would release inmates in the final stages of the killer disease.
Yesterday, Lt. Col. Prescod said the educational programmes for inmates would continue, but "... you can hide behind any closed doors and say this (sexual contact) is not happening, but this does not stop it, how do you really stop it?"
In 1997 there was a major controversy over a proposal by the Commissioner of Correc-tions that condoms be made available to prisoners. Pris-oners subsequently attacked other inmates accusing them of being homosexuals.
Fourteen were killed at the General Penitentiary and two at the St. Catherine District Prison. Small sample surveys done in the past showed inmates had a three to four per cent higher risk of HIV infection than the general population. This was in keeping with international trends.
