Corporate Entities Urged to Assist with Rehabilitation of Inmates

Minister of National Security, Senator Colonel Trevor MacMillan has called on more corporate companies to assist the Government in providing better rehabilitation opportunities for inmates.
The Minister made the call on Thursday (July 3) while addressing the staff of the Tamarind Farm Adult Correctional Centre, following a tour of the facility and the rehabilitation activities being carried out by inmates.
He noted Food for the Poor and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as among the many organizations that provide assistance to the correctional centre, and praised them for continuing to make rehabilitation at the centre possible. Senator MacMillan said however that more corporate entities need to follow their lead and give whatever assistance they could.
“The fact is that for every prisoner that comes into an institution and goes out and comes back in, if that prisoner had the opportunity to get a vocation, to learn some skill, the chances are high that he or she would never had come back in,” he said.
Senator MacMillan also commended correctional officers. He said touring the facility had been educational for him and that he had been pleasantly surprised by some of the accomplishments that were evident. The Security Minister acknowledged that the conditions under which the personnel worked were not the best and assured that he would seek to bring about some changes.
“Part of my job as Minister is to try and get the resources for the people who work in the various portfolios but I have no magic wand, I cannot guarantee it will happen. What I can do is say I will bat on your behalf to the best of my ability,” he stated.
As part of their rehabilitation inmates at Tamarind Farm plant various agricultural produce, and engage in livestock rearing, and skills training in areas such as tailoring and cabinet-making.