Donaldson Will Not Return Even If Invited
According to The Nation News, Terry Donaldson, author of the book “Hell In Barbados”, will not come back to Barbados to testify at the prison enquiry even if invited.
And that may be the entire truth.
But not for the first time, I find myself thinking about the Nation News and how they present their articles. I wonder about the context in which Mr. Donaldson’s statements were given. What did he say immediately before and after? According to the paper, he wouldn’t come back to Barbados. What about if he gave sworn testimony from London via phone or satellite linkup? That is done all the time.
Whether reading The Nation News, Barbados Advocate or Barbados Free Press, one should always question the veracity and completeness of everything.
Here is the story link to Jail Hell at The Nation News
3 Comments
February 21, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Donaldson has already testified,
simply by virtue of what he said, on the webpages that are so compelling one can’t stop reading.
Besides…what’s yet-another “Commission of Enquiry going to establish?
That the long-overdue burning of the overcrowded prison was a self-fulfilling prophecy just waiting for a spark?
It done burn.
get on with your lives and with the new prison.
Whuh yuh gyne do?
Put the arsonists in jail?
February 22, 2007 at 3:18 am
I have not yet read Donaldson’ book, but I have a strong suspicion that if there is anyone to blame it will not be the inmates.
Discontent culminating in riot and arson does not come about overnight. There is no spontaneous combustion, but a slow burn. It is invariably a gradual process which can be sensed and anticipated by those in charge- the warders, superintendents and those above them. It takes only the spark of a single quarrel to ignite these emotions, such as took place.
Conditions in jail are not supposed to be nice, but they are not supposed, in this day and age to be so deplorable that the convicts are prepared to burn down the buildings on themselves as a form of rebellion.
Sensing a growing feeling of rage and rebellion is the duty of those in charge of a prison. Taking the steps to defuse the time bomb lies intheir hands. It appears this was not done. The uprising of the convicts was a tragedy waiting to happen. Those responsible for any commission of enquiry are likely to those ultimately responsible for the conflagration.
Who is to guard the guards?
February 22, 2007 at 10:36 am
I am sure that the nation newspaper had already printed excerpts of Mr. Donaldson’s proposed book about two or three years ago…I seem to recall middle page spreads.
Perhaps the Nation is just doing what all other “news” entities do…stretching a story out and out and out, and run it for days or years!