There is a fascinating policy within
SHG. Never, ever acknowledge any input that comes from outside SHG.
x
You see this in yesterday’s press
release about the planning permission for the new Prison.
http://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/exco-report-tuesday-17-september-2019/?fbclid=IwAR26TGf-a5WCw762ikLRWM3veaSjrVuwvBi7EuZgbj3WuoOAR1lb5sLhLlw
“Members noted that the existing
Prison and Police Custody Suite located in Jamestown is not fit for purpose as
identified following visits and advice from the FCO Prison Adviser. The current
conditions and facilities at the Prison are substandard and the need for a new
prison is undeniable and long overdue.”
While this is technically correct, it
is a distortion of the true facts – not remotely the “whole truth”.
Yes, the Prison Adviser did recommend
building a new prison because the one we have is sub-standard and does not meet
Human Rights standards. But he started saying that way back in the 1990s and
was ignored, even when he repeated his advice several times. It was only when
our Equality & Human Rights Commission did its recent Inquiry
(http://humanrightssthelena.org/prisoninquiry18.htm) into the prison did SHG take
any meaningful action, which has got us to where we are today – some progress.
But SHG cannot allow itself to accept
that it is only taking action because “outsiders” have recommended it.
This form of 1984 double-speak is a
fundamental part of any SHG press release and it is one of the reason why
nobody believes anything said in an SHG press release.
