Issues With Water Supply At Westgate Facility
[Updated] There have been ongoing issues with the water supply at the Westgate Correctional Facility, with unofficial information suggesting there has been lack of running water for showers and flushing the toilet.
One individual close to the situation questioned how the incarcerated men can be be in a mindset to be rehabilitated and educated when they can’t flush their toilets or shower. The person said that as of this morning, partial water service has apparently been restored at Westgate, and during the outage, bottled water had been provided.
Bernews asked the Ministry of National Security for comment on Friday and we will update as able.
Update 10.22am: The Attorney General just mentioned this matter, well the topic of working to improve the plumbing issues, in the Senate, you can listen to the Senate live here and we will update with her remarks later on.
Update 6.20pm: A Government spokesperson said, “The Ministry of Public Works and Environment advises that water service has been restored at Westgate Correctional Facility following repairs completed on Sunday, 27 September.
“An initial repair restored service on Friday, 25 September, but a further failure caused another interruption. The Department of Public Lands and Buildings worked through the weekend with its plumbing contractor and the Government Water Section to install a replacement connection and restore the supply.
“The Ministry apologises to staff and those in custody for the disruption. While repairs were under way, we worked with the Department of Corrections to maintain essential operations and provide access to water.
“The Department of Public Lands and Buildings will continue to monitor the system to make sure the supply remains stable.
“A full assessment of the condition of each correctional facility is under way and is expected to be completed shortly. This assessment will establish the scope of work needed to address longstanding issues and guide the Government’s plans for significant investment in these facilities.”
