Seetahal defends Justice Volney

Independent Senator Dana Seetahal has defended statements by High Court judge Herbert Volney, saying the judge's statement do not amount to inciting prisoners to engage in a hunger-strike.

Volney has been criticized as being responsible for suggesting that prisoners should go on a hunger strike.

"What you need to do is go on a hunger strike so that those responsible will feel the pain of those languishing in prison,” the judge told prisoners in San Fernando.

Read the story: Frustrated judge tells prisoners to go on strike

Seetahal said Volney was merely expressing his frustration with the system.

“I don’t think Mr Volney was seeking to incite the prisoners. I really do not. I think Justice Volney may have gotten fed up about many things in the criminal justice system," she said.

Seetahal added, "Like many other people, and he, in his desire to show that things were not acceptable, merely suggested to them that, if you want some action, the only way to get things done in the country was simply by a protest.”

Acting Prisons Commissioner Martin Martinez said he hopes the prisoners won't heed the advice from the judge.

“If prisoners go on hungers strikes, there is nothing we could do but try to get them to eat. If they refuse and their conditions deteriorate...I do not wish that situation to occur at all. I hope we don’t reach that stage where prisoners engage in a massive hunger strike," he told the Trinidad Guardian.

Acting Police Commissioner James Philbert declined comment. He appeared to doubt that the judge made such a statement.

“Justice Volney said that, Mr Volney told them to engage in a hunger strike, the judge told the prisoners to engage in a hunger strike? I can’t comment on that right now. I need to hear that for myself,” he told the Guardian.