Expansion of Inmate Work Programme Being Considered – PM

The Government is considering expanding the existing inmate work programme, which utilizes the labour of incarcerated persons, to carry out public works projects.
Responding to a suggestion that inmates be utilized more in this regard, during his first one-hour radio call-in programme on Wednesday (January 30) from Jamaica House, Prime Minister, Bruce Golding disclosed that the matter had been recently discussed at a meeting of the National Security Council, which he attended.
“Some work (pertaining to inmate labour) is being done already. I was told about a variety of projects that prison labour is being used on. But, I want to get them in the Sandy Gully, for example, to go and start cleaning out some of the pile up there. I (also) want to get them on our sidewalks, cleaning out drains.
Naturally, we are going to have to consign this to those who are, for want of a better word, ‘controllable’ (as) we don’t want to take out high risk people, and risk them escaping and causing mayhem,” Mr. Golding outlined.
The Prime Minister advised that consideration was being given to providing a stipend to inmates who performed their tasks well, which he said would be “put into a savings account for you (inmates) (to have) when you are released from prison.”
He further said that, “we (can) even use that (inmate work programme) as a basis for reducing their (inmates) sentence. It’s something that we’re working on.”
‘Jamaica House Live’ which is hosted by Mr. Golding, will be aired on the last Wednesday of each month, and carried live between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on RJR 94 FM, Nationwide Radio Digital AM; Love 101 FM; Hot 102; KLAS FM, and Roots FM.