NASSAU, Bahamas — Minister of Labour and Social Development Senator the Hon. Dion Foulkes appealed to businesspersons on Thursday to be as open as possible and hire reformed inmates once they have served their time.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of a male health seminar for inmates at Her Majesty’s Prisons Mr Foulkes said, “We want to appeal to the business community that when former inmates apply for a job, and they have a letter of all of the programmes they participated in, give them a second chance whether it is in the construction field, hospitality, or retail, and I will guarantee you that this country would be a better place.”
He also stressed that Dr. Elliston Rahming, the Superintendent of Prisons and the staff at the facility were doing an excellent job of reforming inmates at the Prison. Dr Rahming has introduced 20 rehabilitative, reform educational and training programmes since he took over running the Prison, Mr Foulkes said.
“The repeat rate for return inmates in the United States is about 60 per cent; when Dr Rahming took over the Prison, the repeat rate was around 50 per cent,” he explained. “I am pleased to report to you that is now down 25 per cent.”
Mr Foulkes said everyone speaks about second chances and forgiveness. And he told the inmates it’s up to them to decide whether they are going to take advantage of the rehabilitation programmes offered at the Prison, so they could receive a second chance. Then it is up to the Government and businesspersons to show forgiveness, he noted.
“The Government is leading the way when it comes to second chances and forgiveness,” he said.
“We have a programme called the National Environmental Clean-up Programme.
“You can work for that programme without any evidence or production of a police record. The reason why we did that is because we want to make sure that every Bahamian citizen regardless to what their history is, they have an opportunity to earn a living, to take care of themselves, to take care of their children and to take care of their family.”
Half of the persons who are employed in the National Environmental Clean-up Programme were once inmates here at the prison, he added. The health seminar was one of the activities planned by the Department of Rehabilitative/Welfare Services for its Annual Rehabilitation Week in conjunction with the Male Health Initiative Unit, Ministry of Health. Dr Rahming thanked the Department for its help in rehabilitating inmates at the prison.
He said the staff from the Department who go to the prison regularly led by K. Harris-Smith, Chief Welfare Officer have skills and knowledge that the regular prison staff do not possess.
Ezekiel Munnings, coordinator, Male Health Initiative Unit said men in the prison need the same care for their health as men on the outside and that is why the Unit decided to partner with the Department of Rehabilitative/Welfare Services and bring in some good speakers to address male health issues.
Dr Robin Roberts will give an understanding of male health, prostate health and how to care for themselves, he explained.
Dr. Francis Williams will talk about non-communicable diseases and how inmates in prison with any sicknesses can be helped.
Dr Vincenti Roberts will talk about mending broken relationships; and how the inmates can get the machinery ready so that when they leave, they could have relationships mended, Mr Munnings said.
By Llonella Gilbert
Bahamas Information Services
