Graphic account of a prison riot and aftermath posted on the web

[JohnyCanuck]

This is a fascinating account of a prison riot and the aftermath written by an Englishman who was held as a prisoner at Glendairy prison on the island of Barbados in 2005 when the prison was completely destroyed by an inmate riot.

There were only a few prisoner lives lost (and those in very brutal fashion) but no guards lost their lives. The inmates were kept contained within the prison grounds for a couple of days after the initial destruction and were then housed in some wharehouses on a temporary basis before being moved after some period of time to a former US Navy base on the island. The navy base had been vacated by the US Navy some years ago and was no longer in use. The buildings on the former navy base at Harrison Point were hurredly converted into prison cells while the prisoners were held temporarily in the warehouses. The authorities are now building a completely new prison in another part of the island. The construction of the new prison is being supervised by a US company with experience in prison construction.

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT FOLLOWS!!!!!



Warning for those of a sensitive nature, the author does get quite graphic in some places in recounting the events of the riot itself and the events following. A few terms that are used in the article and which are probably unfamiliar to most North Americans are:
"Bullerman" - a crude local term used to refer to a male homosexual
"Mauby" - a West Indian drink made from the bark of a tree
"Bubbies" - refer to female breasts.

My name is Terry Donaldson and this is my story.

I was a junky, had been for years. At the time of my recruitment I had been back on the stuff- crack cocaine and heroin- for a few years. Prior to my relapse, I had a 4 bedroom house, a wife, a Mercedes Benz 320, and a career in television. By the time the drugs had worn off, I was left with nothing, except debts totaling about 100 grand <$100,000> and an infection of hepatitis C. Then I was offered a trip abroad- to 'do a run'- to fly out to some place and bring back a suitcase full of cocaine. For this I was to be paid 5 grand <$5000>. Believe it or not, it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Next thing I know I'm being held at Grantley Adams International Airport, Barbados, by about a dozen gargantuan types, a collection of police and customs officers. I must have seemed quite out of it- they seemed to think I wasn't all there.

Next day- court appearance. I was actually relieved when the magistrate, a Mrs. Marva Clarke handed me a 4 year sentence at Oistins Magistrates Court. It could have been a lot worse. If I hadn't been nearly doubled up with the pains from heroin withdrawal, I might even have danced a jig. The cops seemed pissed off that I got off lighter than a local man who'd been caught stealing bottles of mauby. His name was Williamson- a Rastaman- and he had just got a 5 year sentence.

SNIP

They were ready to kill Jones. From somewhere in the room he managed to pick up a spare brick that just happened to be lying about, and with all his force he flung it at Badmouth, the leader of this posse. The rock missed, but hit someone else, taking their left eye clean out. Those that saw it said that they could see it hanging outside the smashed eye-socket by its stalk. By now, there was blood everywhere. During this part of the action I was in the Mess Hall, but even though I didn't know exactly what was going on I could see from the milling around of the crowds outside that something was about to go off. Someone slapped Carrington on his head, and he ran off, locking the door of his office behind him, with only Jones inside. But Badmouth and the other youngsters were baying for Jones' blood by now. There was blood on the walls, on the floor, and the smell of it tends to have an effect.

http://www.usp.com.au/fpss/exp-terry_donaldson01.html

The author, Terrence Donaldson, says he is going to publish a fuller account in the form of a book and possibly hopes to have it made into a film.

From a story in the Barbados Nation News:

TERRENCE DONALDSON, the British national who has written, on a prisoners' website, a detailed account of his life at Barbados' Glendairy Prisons and Harrison Point, is writing a book and negotiating for film rights on the Glendairy fire.

Speaking to the SUNDAY SUN via telephone yesterday, Donaldson said he intends to put Barbados on the map.

"The true story of the real people who would never be able to tell their story will be told by me. I am their advocate," he stated from his home in Wood Green, London.

Three years in jail

The 50-year-old man spent three years behind bars on cocaine charges. He was released last August and wrote his story on the website last November.

http://www.nationnews.com/story/325735458763231.php