Trade unions concerns about inhumane treatment of detainees

Port-of-Spain: Leaders of the joint trade union movement have written to Prisons Commissioner John Rougier requesting that they be allowed to visit detention facilities where detainees arrested during the state of emergency are being held.

The trade unionists told Commissioner Rougier that they have concerns regarding the condition under which detainees were being kept at various facilities under his purview.

They said they had reports from detainees, some of whom are workers and members of trade unions, that conditions in which they are being kept are in violation of fundamental human rights guidelines.

As such they are requesting that a delegation from the movement visit the facilities to view the conditions in which detainees are being kept, to ensure that it is in keeping with international human rights standards.

They have told the commissioner that  even during a State of Emergency human dignity must be maintained at all times.