St Mary South Eastern MP alarmed over death of detainee at lock-up, calls for accountability

Jamaica Gleaner | 2025-12-07 | Original Article

Member of Parliament for St Mary South Eastern, Christopher Brown, says he’s deeply concerned about the death of a man in custody at the Annotto Bay Police Station lock-up.

 

 

The police reported that 34-year-old Eraldo Francis, otherwise called 'Nagram', sustained injuries during a fight with other detainees on Saturday and was later pronounced dead at hospital.

 

 

In a media release, Brown argued that any situation in which a life is lost while under State supervision is alarming and must be urgently addressed.

 

He is calling for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and for the public to be informed.

 

 

The MP is also calling for a review of how individuals are being housed at the lock-up, noting that the facility has a history of overcrowding and other issues.

 

 

According to him, the facility was built to accommodate 12 persons, yet recent information suggests it has been holding close to five times that number, with approximately 50 detainees in custody.

 

 

Brown argues that there needs to be a plan from the relevant authorities to improve conditions at Annotto Bay and other facilities in order to prevent any further harm.

 

 

He noted that the Belfield Police Station is in a state of total disrepair, raising serious concerns about the conditions under which the men and women of the Jamaica Constabulary Force are required to work.

 

Additionally, he said the Richmond Police Station,particularly the lock-up, is also in a troubling state, presenting risks both to detainees and to the officers stationed there.

 

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