Pine Grove Correctional Centre. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

COVID in Custody

‘I’m frustrated, I’m scared’: COVID outbreak at Pine Grove

May 27, 2021 | 2:00 PM

Dina Kayseas says she is very concerned for her daughter’s well being.

Cherise Sutherland-Kayseas is among nine active COVID-19 inmate cases at the Pine Grove Correctional Centre, where an outbreak was declared last week. Kayseas told paNOW, due to COVID restrictions, she has been unable to speak to her daughter in almost three months.

“I’m frustrated, I’m scared, because there were a few younger girls that have died from COVID,” she said.

Earlier this year, Sutherland-Kayseas went on an 18-day “hunger strike”, alleging various degrees of mistreatment at the jail, including having no clean water to wash up with, or having access to the proper PPE to keep her cell and unit clean.

“And they were moving other girls into cells where a person was in quarantine, without properly cleaning that,” Kayseas added.

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Sutherland-Kayseas has been on remand since January 2020. She’s currently facing murder charges in connection to the death of Sheena Marie Billete in La Ronge, as well as Dylan Chretien in Prince Albert. While the charges are very serious, Sutherland-Kayseas has not been convicted and has had at least one pre-trial date pushed back due to COVID.

“I’m really worried and even through written correspondence, they’ve sent my letters back to me,” Kayseas said. “We don’t have any way of communicating and it’s frustrating and it’s scary because I don’t know what’s going on. Pine Grove can be a dangerous place.”

A letter to Corrections Minister Christine Tell

Inmate advocate Sherri Maier has written a letter to Minister Christine Tell, concerning Sutherland-Kayseas and the overall situation at Pine Grove.

“I understand in Pine Grove, there are many women who have compromised immune systems, there has been at least one woman who was pregnant,” she wrote. “These women deserve better care especially during this pandemic.”

Meier proceeds to call on the Minister’s office to take action, explaining further that incarceration is a means of punishment and is meant to rehabilitate people.

“It is not a death sentence, nor should it cause harm to people. Inmates are people and they have rights,” she wrote.

COVID cases at Prince Albert jails as of May 25. (Submitted/ Ministry of Corrections)

Response from Ministry of Corrections

In an emailed statement, the Ministry explained they cannot comment on the circumstances surrounding individual cases.

“The process for inmate complaints is detailed under Part VII of The Correctional Services Act. We would urge inmates to go through the legislated channels if they have any concerns. Alternately, inmates may raise any concerns they have with the ombudsman.”

As per the extensive protocols Corrections has had in place throughout the system for the last year Pine Grove does not have in-person visits, as well as requiring isolation and quarantining for those who show symptoms. Other measures that have been in place include enhanced cleaning, continuous masking of staff and offenders, and quarantining new admissions for 14 days.

Editors’ note: this article was amended to make clear Corrections has had extensive COVID-19 protocols and testing in place for most of the last year and such measures were not initiated as a result of the recent Pine Grove outbreak.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell