Not right that Beatrice Hunter locked up in HMP, say supporters

Her Majesty's Penitentiary in St. John's is not any kind of place to lock up a Labrador woman who was simply exercising her right to protest at the Muskrat Falls construction site, according to the president of the Nunatsiavut government.

Beatrice Hunter, an Inuk woman from Happy Valley-Goose Bay, was transferred to HMP last week, after she couldn't promise to uphold a Supreme Court injunction to stay away from the construction site.

It's no secret that our prison situation in this province leaves a tremendous amount to be desired.- Minister Andrew Parsons

"A woman like Beatrice Hunter does not belong in Her Majesty's Penitentiary, and most certainly should be moved to a more suitable place or released immediately," said Johannes Lampe, president of the Nunatsiavut government.

Hunter is being held at HMP because the women's correctional facility in Clarenville is at capacity, and when that happens the women sometimes need to be kept at the men's facility.

Lampe said his government does not provide any legal assistance to anyone who breaks the law and won't be starting to do that, but what they can offer is moral support.

"Right now I can only say we are doing what we can to keep continuing to talk to the premier to say that the province of Newfoundland and Labrador has to request to Nalcor that these charges to the Labrador land protectors be dropped," Lampe told CBC's Labrador Morning.

Todd Russell, president of NunatuKavut, released a statement Monday saying he knew it was an "extremely challenging time" for Hunter and her family to have her incarcerated in a men's maximum security prison.

'Not appropriate' to comment on specifics

When asked why he thought if HMP is where Hunter belonged through this case, Justice Minister Andrew Parsons said it's a "very tricky question" for an attorney general to answer.

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"This is a matter of the courts and it's not appropriate for an attorney general to comment on specific cases," he told CBC's CrossTalk.

"Now, what I will say is that it's no secret that our prison situation in this province leaves a tremendous amount to be desired. And these issues are known."

Parsons said he understands why people are upset that the grandmother is in a men's prison, but couldn't comment further.

"When we look at people that they're a long way from their home, from their culture, from their supporters, that's difficult for anyone, but it would very much be inappropriate for me to comment on this."

Why hold Hunter at HMP?

In an interview with CBC Radio's On The Go Monday, assistant superintendent of HMP Dianna Gibbons wouldn't say how many women are being held at the St. John's prison currently but said Hunter's situation isn't unusual.

Gibbons said the number fluctuates from day to day, and HMP has been taking on the overflow of inmates from the Clarenville facility for the past 18 months.

"While they are housed at HMP, they are practically in a separate prison. It's a separate entity all together and they have absolutely no interaction with the male inmates whatsoever," she said.

Gibbons said every individual is treated "on a case by case basis" when it comes to determining where inmates are held, but saidthe public backlash over Hunter's incarceration had no bearing on the decision to hold the Labrador woman in the St. John's prison.