The face of the Barbados Prison Service is about to change as Government seeks to make Dodds Prison “the model prison of the Caribbean”.
Minister of Home Affairs and Information, Wilfred Abrahams, shared this vision while giving the assurance that efforts to address concerns raised by prison officers were under way in order to bring about changes at the institution.
The reformed prison service will feature a parole system, electronic monitoring, an increase in programmes for rehabilitation, and a half-way house to assist with the reintegration of inmates into society on their release.
Speaking during the Service Medals Award ceremony for prison officers at the St. Philip penal institution this morning, Minister Abrahams stressed that the prison service must step into contemporary times and be relevant.
“It is no longer a focus on keeping people out of society until such a time that they have served their sentence and be released. While we have them, we must do something useful with them. While we have them, we must help them become their best selves. They are our charges…,” the Minister pointed out.
He said it was Government’s intention to put resources behind the prison to allow for attainment of CVQs, higher educational pursuits and achievements, and for the training of persons in relevant skills.
The Home Affairs Minister called for the “building of bridges” and the establishment of programmes that would allow employers willing to give persons released from prison a second chance the opportunity to take them on.
“We need to equip those who are here with the ability to work for themselves,” he added.
“My aim and vision for the prison [is] to create a model prison and give you officers the tools and training that you need to take yourselves to the next level. You need to be the best prison officers that you can be.”
He added that a number of tasks at the prison were presently done by prison officers, but Government was moving to assign civilian-type tasks to civilians.
Mr. Abrahams also tasked the acting Superintendent of Prisons, DeCarlo Payne, with the responsibility of ensuring that there is a grievance handling procedure in place to address concerns of prison officers going forward.
“I charge you to ensure that a proper procedure is put in place, that the concerns of these men and women…can be acknowledged, understood and addressed,” he charged, stressing he did not want a lack of morale at the institution.
He added that next year’s estimates would also reflect Government’s intention to address those issues, already brought to the fore.
However, the Minister cautioned the prison officers to avoid forgetting what their duty is, and urged them to remain above board.
“Anything that happens in the prison and comprises the security of our country, I have zero tolerance for that,” he stated. Prison officers received their Service Medal of Honour awards dating back to 2018 during this morning’s ceremony.