Health and Wellness of Correctional Officers Being Prioritised

The Government is prioritising the health and wellness of staff who serve in the correctional service to ensure that they can effectively carry out their role in rehabilitating inmates.

Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, Hon. Zavia Mayne, said that the environment in which correctional officers work is highly stressful and members can only be at their best when “their holistic self is taken into consideration”.

“In ranking the priority of the things that we have to do, health and wellness of our staff matters, because, unless we are fully healthy, what we set out to achieve is going to be compromised,” he said.

Mr. Mayne was delivering the keynote address at the recent launch of the Department of Correctional Services’ (DCS) wellness fairs, held at its Spanish Town Sports Club in St. Catherine.

He said it is important for correctional officers to do regular screenings to ascertain the state of their physical and mental health.

“Health and wellness have to be guaranteed. You have been asked to do a most important and critical function within our society and you have to be fit to do it. That is not something that we can take for granted. You cannot be at your best if your mental state is not fully intact,” the State Minister noted.

Commissioner of Corrections, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Gary Rowe, reported that through the DCS Welfare Committee, gym equipment and health tools have been procured and placed at the various correctional facilities.

He said that over $4 million was spent during the last year from the welfare fund to assist staff with medical support.

The DCS plays a key role in national security by securing, supervising, rehabilitating and reintegrating offenders in society as productive and law-abiding citizens.

The entity is working to become the Caribbean’s centre of excellence in correctional management.