Donalyn Lesmond (right) and Lucas Lesmond.
The Bordelais Correctional Facility (BCF) has responded to reports of a female inmate who received treatment at the Victoria Hospital for a miscarriage.
In a press statement yesterday, the institution declared that the report is false and that there are strict guidelines by which they operate which ensure that such an incident may never occur.
“The facility categorically disassociates itself from allegations leveled at the BCF, which allude to a female remand detainee having been recently pregnant or having miscarried a pregnancy,” the statement said.
The intuition reiterated that males and females are segregated and that male correctional officers are not permitted to enter the female residential area nor are they detailed to work on the female unit.
“The institution engages strict procedures to ensure that there is minimal contact among the female and male population of the prison. The female unit by its very design and physical location stands as a separate, secured unit on the compound,” it added.
According to the institution, the inmate had been scheduled for treatment at Victoria Hospital and was simply admitted and supervised by police officers in keeping with normal procedure. It was explained that there is a health care centre located at the Bordelais Correctional Facility which is staffed by two registered nurses and four health aides.
However there are situations which require referrals to the Dennery, St. Jude and Victoria hospitals or the National Mental Wellness Centre, as the case may be.
The institution said it is responsible for the health needs and requirements of inmates are adequately addressed, and the inmate was therefore referred to the Victoria Hospital.
A source at the Victoria Hospital had told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that the female prisoner identified as Donalyn Lesmond was suffering from endometrial hyperplasia. This condition is unrelated to pregnancy complications.
Rumours that Donalyn was pregnant and had a miscarriage were also discussed on several popular radio talk shows with callers questioning the integrity of the prison officials.
Lesmond is on remand for killing her husband, police officer Lucas Lesmond in 2012.