HMP admonished to hire locally
The Minister was at the time addressing key officers of HMP on the opening day of a 4-day strategic planning workshop being held at the Education Conference Room, RJT Edifice building.
The senior prison officers were told by Hon. Walwyn that while fourteen new Prison officers were recently hired, they are hoping to fill the other vacancies shortly. "And I admonish those conducting the interviews to do everything possible to hire locally. And I will take my time to say this, as a matter of fact, I will be insisting that we immediately look at a local recruitment drive followed by a short training programme to create a pool from which to hire locally to fill these vacant posts," the Minister stated.
He also said the answer to improving the prison system does not lie only in putting up more buildings.
"We all know and understand that there are many issues and problems with regard to the prison and that many of these are urgent," he noted. It was acknowledged that the problems experienced at HMP did not begin “yesterday” and because there is need to start somewhere to address the issues, the strategic workshop was designed and is being conducted.
Along with the strategic plan and development of standard operating procedures, the Education Minister said many critical areas will be addressed.
He alluded to the recent escapes of prisoners from HMP and pointed to a number of security issues which are being addressed and which will be tightened by the operating procedures.
"When these young people, and the majority of our inmates are young people, end up in the prison we must ensure that when they leave they are in a better position than before they went in," stated Hon. Walwyn.
The Minister outlined a number of ways Government intends to ensure inmates are kept occupied and obtain skills that will help with their re-integration into society.
Mr Lew T. Edwards and Mrs Leas A. Edwards of Edwards Consulting Investment of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, have been contracted to facilitate the workshop.
In a brief opening statement, Mr Edwards outlined that the workshop will focus on a list of areas including update and revising of the standard operating procedures, which will include policies and procedures. Rehabilitation, education and work programmes, youth services and workforce development programme are also some of the areas that will be discussed.
Follow Us On
33 Responses to “HMP admonished to hire locally”
HON. MYRON WALWYN I THINK THAT YOU ARE DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB...I AM NOT HIDING BEHIND A PSEUDO NAME TO WRITE BOGUS CRAP...KEEP UP THE EXCELLENT WORK WETHER YOU ARE AN "ISLAND MAN" OR NOT...SOME PEOPLE CAN BE SO SILLY...MAYBE YOU NEED TO PRODUCE A COPY OF YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE LIKE PRESIDENT OBAMA DID...AS A MATTER OF FACT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PROVE ANYTHING...YOU GAVE MOST CHILDREN IF NOT ALL A BETTER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM TO DO THEIR WORK BY INSTALLING AIR CONDITIONING UNITS IN THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS, YOU ADDRESSED THE RAT/BEES PROBLEMS EXPEDITIOUSLY, YOU ADDRESSED THE CXC EXAMS, THE PRIDE IN HAVING A NATIONAL SONG, YOU ARE NOW ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM OF THE RECRUITMENT OF TOO MANY NON-NATIONALS IN THE PRISON JUST TO NAME A FEW...THE VIRGIN ISLANDS LOOK LIKE THE ONLY PLACE WHERE NON-NATIONALS CAN PRACTICALLY WALK OFF THE STREETS AND TAKE OVER MOST IF NOT ALL THE IMPORTANT JOBS IN GOVERNMENT AND THEIR STATUTORY BOARDS!!!
Yes, it have BVIslanders who make ignorant statements and behave ignorantly, that doesn't mean you have tobdo the same.
Not now
RIGHT NOW!