Visit to Morondava Prison

Hello Friends,

The other day I met with Pastor Bertrand so he could introduce me to the Morondava Prison DRAP - Directeur Régionale de l'Administration Pénitentiaire. Following my positive encounters with the Antalaha prison officials, I wasn’t surprised to find this Prison Director also warm and inviting.

After making our introductions I asked a few questions:

Are the minors and the majors kept separate as required by Malagasy law?

“No, it is our goal but the room for the minors is in terrible shape. The toilet isn’t functional and the walls are coated with grime. For now, they are assigned separate quarters in the men’s section which is not ideal. Mixing the minors with adult inmates can further criminalize the young, a situation I am concerned about. “

He gave me a tour of the prison. I noticed that the boys were sleeping on plastic rice sacks, one using a squashed gerry can for a pillow. However, there was ample ventilation, unlike the boys chambers in Antalaha.

How many minors are incarcerated here?

“A little over seven hundred in total including about twenty-five minors. The under-age females are housed with the women.”

The place didn’t look severely crowded to me. In contrast, Antalaha prison contains over two thousand prisoners in a space built for only two hundred fifty..

How many times a day are the prisoners given food?

“Once a day. Either rice, manioc or some other kind of starch.”

What about vegetables? Protein?

“A couple of the prisoners on good behavior are allowed to go into town to buy provisions. They re-sell the goods for a little profit.”

So some relatives give money to their family members in jail?

“Yes that is how the system works. “

And for the inmates with no outside help ?

He shook his head, silent.

So what if the prisoners steal from the prisoners? You can’t put them in jail because they already are in jail.

He laughed. “They get punished by having to hand clean out the septic tanks.”

Yup. Would be a good deterrent for me.

Does this prison own farmland?

“Yes, 30 kilometers from here. We grow rice and maniac to feed the inmates. “

Have you thought about growing moringa trees? The leaves are full of vitamins and you could supplement the diet.:”

“Haven’t thought about that. How do you grow them?”

Would you mind if I bring you seeds tomorrow and tell you how to get started?

“No that would be most kind. “

Renovation-wise, what would be your priorities?

“Just last month, Pastor Bertrand here, and his congregation kindly assisted us with acquiring a new submersible pump ensuring a plentiful water supply. But the septic system needs a total overhaul. For instance, the women’s ward accommodates thirty-five women with only one toilet. When it rains, waste water overflows from the toilet, flooding the floor where some women sleep.

In the back of the prison buildings were stagnant ponds of shitty water and some holding tanks, full to the brim.

One last thing. Why do you have a photo of a French president on your wall?

He and the P Bertrand erupted into laughter. The last election was a sham, with only a small fraction of Malagasy voting. The major opposition parties and their supporters boycotted the election. The incumbent president seeking a second term was technically disqualified from seeking office, due to having dual citizenships, French and Malagasy.

We entered the women’s quarters and some handed the pastor about a dozen freshly woven baskets. His congregation supports this small initiative by supplying the raw materials, buying back the finished baskets , and selling them locally. I compared the cost of a similar basket in the market, and it seems that what they pay the women is very fair.