Under Age Prisoners
My wrists were tied together with rope . The police sent me here yesterday for stealing a chicken. I am scared."
14 year old boy
"This place isn't normal! "
17 year old teenager
I learned that this French colonial structure was originally built to accommodate 250 prisoners, yet now holds an astounding 1900 inmates. It's the second most crowded prison on the Island after Antanimora prison in the capital city of Antananarivo.
On our way towards the children's section, we stepped over putrid drains and tiptoed on rocks scattered across the stinking sludge past the grim TB ward, gaunt men eyeing us silently.
We were met by about eighty boys squatting in military-style formation, skinny frog-likelegs shoved against the back of the kid in front, shaved heads beaded with sweat.They shouted a loud greeting in unison, "Mbola tsarée!"
Mr. Albain, the officer in charge of the well-being of the prisoners, seemed kind and engaged. Somehow, I had expected a tyrant. He invited the kids to sing and joined along,clapping in rhythm. Three kids stood up as spokespersons to express their needs. The first,wearing only a pair of filthy ragged shorts, asked for clothing. The second said they were always hungry and needed more food. The third choked back tears and begged for a regular water supply. My heart was overwhelmed with their humble requests – clothing, food, and water.
I peeked into the boy's toilet stalls. Two were in the dormitory block where kids are caged in for 16 hours, and the other two were outside near the large cement tanks used for bathing and washing clothes. Usually the pipes are dry, water dripping only now and again.
The toilets were backed up with watery excrement overflowing into the stalls where the kids had placed brick stepping stones. The "shower" space was also used for defecation, but without ample water, the waste just piled up. Kids were trying to play ball in the muddy courtyard, slipping around in the muck. Water pipes were patched by rag strips, faucets were leaking away precious liquid. Much of the time there was no water at all.
I wandered into the boys sleeping chambers, dank and mouldy. No fans, filthy walls,stinky mats, cement slabs for beds. Kids would be locked inside from 4:00 PM until the next morning. A couple of barred windows. No cross ventilation. Most of the kids complained of itchy skin eruptions brought on by the incessant heat.
