WILLEMSTAD - Jacinta Constancia, former member of the MFK party and recently a detainee herself, has sent a comprehensive letter to the Parliament of Curaçao expressing her concerns about the conditions at the Sentro di Detenshon i Korekshon Kòrsou (SDKK) prison. In her 26-page letter, Constancia describes the conditions in the prison as inhumane and draws parallels with modern forms of slavery.
Constancia references the apologies made by Prime Minister Mark Rutte and King Willem-Alexander for the country's slavery past. Despite these apologies, Constancia argues that prisoners in SDKK are still treated in ways she describes as "modern slavery." She criticizes the unhygienic, unsafe, and inhumane conditions that prisoners face daily and calls for immediate action to end these practices.
According to Constancia, these issues stem not only from a lack of knowledge among prison management and guards but also from inadequate government policies, insufficient financial resources, and the failure of Parliament to intervene. She condemns the use of forced labor under poor conditions and highlights instances where prisoners are strip-searched before being allowed to perform certain tasks.
In the letter, Constancia stresses that while providing basic necessities such as food, water, and medical care is essential, this is not enough for individuals who are subjected to daily humiliation and abuse of power. She emphasizes that the feeling of safety is a fundamental human right and refers to international reports that deem SDKK unsafe and unsuitable.
Constancia places responsibility for the current conditions at SDKK not only on the prison itself but also on Parliament. She begins her letter by urging representatives to take responsibility, noting that the prison's conditions have been substandard for years.
She further describes how prisoners protect themselves by covering their cell windows with clothing and cardboard, and how the atmosphere in the cell blocks is violent and tense. There is an urgent need for renovations and more activities for the prisoners, but a chronic lack of staff hampers these improvements.
Although Constancia acknowledges some progress has been made in improving prison conditions, she stresses that these efforts are far from sufficient. She calls on Parliament and Justice Minister Shalten Hato (MFK) to continue with reforms and implement the necessary changes within SDKK.