CAT/OP/CRI/ROSP/1 to reduce overcrowding in prisons and would like to be informed of the specific measures taken and of progress made in this area. Food and physical conditions in prisons 52. Physical conditions varied, depending on how long ago the detention facilities had been built. Many prisons had old facilities and, in some cases, clogged toilets. Elsewhere, such as the C cell block of the Nelson Mandela closed rehabilitation centre, former storerooms had been converted into dormitories. The physical conditions in less restrictive environments, such as the “cottages” of the Nelson Mandela closed rehabilitation centre, were generally better, although there were signs of incipient overcrowding. The Subcommittee was informed of problems with storm drains, which overflow when it rains and flood the central courtyards of many cell blocks. The Subcommittee noted the presence of insects in the dormitories and many of the foam mattresses were in an appalling state. The Subcommittee was alarmed at the deplorable state of the wiring in almost all the detention centres visited. Most of the wires were bare, posing a constant danger to detainees. In some areas of the Marcos Garvey closed rehabilitation centre, many persons deprived of their liberty reported water outages, which they claimed were sometimes imposed as a punishment. 53. The Subcommittee recommends that the State party urgently take measures to improve the physical conditions in Costa Rican prisons and that it develop a strategy and an action plan to resolve the aforementioned problems. In particular, the Subcommittee recommends that, in accordance with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules), prisoners should have access to water, sufficient light and ventilation and working sanitary facilities and should be provided with mattresses in good condition. 54. During its visits of various prisons, the Subcommittee received complaints of insufficient quantities of food, insufficiently cooked food, especially noodles, rice and beans, and poor hygiene both in cooking and transporting food. In La Reforma, the Subcommittee found that food was transported in open containers, allowing flies to land on it. In addition, the cold-storage room had been out of order for two years, resulting in a disruption of the cold chain. The Subcommittee found bagged meat that had already thawed but that had yet to spend long hours at room temperature before being cooked the next day, thus posing health risks. At the Nelson Mandela closed rehabilitation centre, the Subcommittee found oily residue on serving dishes after they had been washed with cold water. 55. The Subcommittee recommends that the relevant authorities take the necessary measures to improve hygiene in cooking and transporting food, in order to prevent the transmission of gastrointestinal infections within prisons. In particular, the authorities should train the prison personnel and persons deprived of their liberty who work in prison kitchens, as well as those responsible for transporting food, in hygienic and responsible food management. 56. According to information submitted by the State party, eight persons are responsible for the nutrition of all persons deprived of their liberty in Costa Rica; four of these are nutritionists and the other four are technicians specializing in nutrition. Two of the nutritionists work in prisons and the other two work in central offices. The State party also submitted information on nutritional planning and weekly menus. The Subcommittee did not meet any nutritionists in the prisons it visited and it repeatedly heard allegations by persons deprived of their liberty that meals were lacking in variety and nutritional value. 57. The Subcommittee recommends increasing the number of nutritionists working for the prison system so that they can develop and regularly update a balanced, varied diet for prisoners that meets their nutritional needs. 58. At the Marcos Garvey closed rehabilitation centre, the Subcommittee discovered that microwaves may not be installed in the cell blocks because of electric wiring problems. Persons deprived of their liberty claimed that, if they wished to warm up their food, they had to pay 250 colones per dish to a mandadero. The Subcommittee visited the place where food is heated up and was able to corroborate the existence of such an arrangement; the visiting delegation was shown a receipt signed by management for the sum of 57,000 colones, collected the previous day. The director of the place stated that the collection of such monies 10 GE.21-00153