Justice Minister Costas Fytiris paid an unannounced visit to the Central Prisons on Monday, where he was briefed by prison management and staff on operational issues and inspected the wing affected by a fire over the weekend.
According to a statement from the Justice Ministry, Fytiris met the prison's management team and received updates on the department's operations, staffing levels, working conditions and issues affecting personnel, particularly in light of overcrowding and the age of the prison facilities.
Operations resumed
He also visited Wing 4, which houses inmates serving long prison sentences and where a fire broke out on the night of 19 July.
The ministry said the damage caused by the fire has been fully repaired and the wing has resumed normal operations.
During the visit, Fytiris also requested meetings with representatives of prison officers' trade unions.
Multiple meetings
He met the president and secretary of the prison officers' branch of the PASYDY civil servants' union to discuss issues affecting staff and hear their views and proposals.
The ministry said a meeting with representatives of the Isotita union's prison officers' branch could not take place because both its president and secretary were absent.
Fytiris was also briefed on the measures taken following the fire and instructed officials to maintain continuous monitoring of security issues and ensure the best possible operation of the Central Prisons during what the ministry described as a challenging period.
Source: CNA
