Shake-up at HM Prison coming!
Acting Superintendent of Prisons Charles L. Forbes held his first general staff members meeting on Wednesday, January 2, 2013 where he unveiled a number of new plans, which he deem necessary to improve the prison service in the Virgin Islands.
Mr. Charles ascended to the position following the passing of the late Superintendent of Prisons Richard Dacosta Holder. At that time Charles was Deputy Superintendent of Prisons.
According to authentic sources in the Ministry of Education, under which Her Majesty’s Prison falls, the first new change that will take effect very soon is the change of the shift system. This change will see officers working twelve (12) hours shift as opposed to the customary eight (8) hours shifts which ran from 6 A.M. to 2 P.M., 2 P.M. to 10P.M. and 10 P.M. to 6 A.M.
With the new systems taking effect, the twelve (12) hour shift will run from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. This allows officers to work four days on and four days off.
Questioned about the reaction of officers to this new development, this news agency was told, “Well you know that changes are not always greeted with all arms open wide, however, there were those who welcomed it, those who didn’t and those whose reaction was that of silence,” said the source.
It is also anticipated that there are likely to be some upsets as recommendations are likely to be made to fill some vacant positions of Principal Officers and Sergeants. “What he (Mr. Charles Forbes) said about this is that he is going to be advocating with the Ministry to have those positions filled,” the source added.
This issue of back-logged vacation was one that was met with high levels of “mumbles”. The source said that the new Superintendant had made it placidly clear that officers with back-logged vacation must utilise same within a given timeframe.
The chronic problem of officers abusing sick leave periods was a feet-tapping topic at the meeting. Several questions were fielded to the new man-in-charge which were said to have been amicably discussed and Sup. Forbes attempted to make officers comfortable with his responses. He had told the officers that it is most likely that the workforce at the prison will be improved as he’ll be lobbying for additional staff.
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32 Responses to “Shake-up at HM Prison coming!”
It also completely disrupts the family dynamic for married officers with children. Four days a week they won't see their daddy! Don't we have enough absentee fathers?
What is the point of this anyway? How does the system benefit? Perhaps if the reason behind this change were explained and the benefits (if any) were made apparent, then people might support it.
Just sayin ...
Secondly the family dynamic has to be dealt with accordingly. officers will not work all morning shifts or all evening shifts so if he is a family man he needs to adjust his family interaction and activities to his schedule. Again this is not Harneys this is HMP you signed up for it there are certain sacrifices that must be made.
Third the benefits of such moves are fairly obvious better functionality at the prison with the 8 hr shifts something was not working right so therefore management chose to change things.
Lastly I hope when you say people you mean the staff at the prison because at the end of the day, you or I do not need to know what or who prompted these changes, We the people need only be concerned that our prison is functioning, that there's some sort of reform for inmates and its secure.
I don't see how this disrupts an officer's life, and how their children won't see them either. There's 24 hr. in the day, They're only spending 12 away from home a day and get to spend the remaining 12 at home with their family. And it's really hilarious that you believe working 12 hrs a day at a prison will make you an ABSENTEE FATHER! Hmmm makes me wonder just how INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE PILOTS, SURGEONS, EMERGENCY ROOM NURSES AND DOCTORS DO IT EVERYDAY. There must be a lot of ABSENTEE PARENTS ALL OVER THE WORLD WITH ABANDONED CHILDREN AND SPOUSES SEVERELY DISRUPTED!!
CLOSE THE HOSPITALS LET THESE HEALTH WORKERS RETURN TO THEIR FAMILIES. CANCEL ALL INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS, TOO MANY CHILDREN WITHOUT THEIR FATHERS! Sounds absolutely ridiculous doesn't it!
four days off @$$. read.
The good thing about trying something is if it doesn't work out, it can always be tweaked until it's perfected, BUT IT MUST BE TRIED FIRST!
Mr F never used to respect Mr holder he used to walk out of meetings Mr minister in charge of prison please intervene no officer no prisoner is going to respect him he can't run the the prison mr Holder was a man of discipilne please send a white man from England or someone who would be respected not a playboy or a womanizer
mr minister wake up before its to late in d jail it leading to another riot soon gang forming and mr .... fighting power and not trying to work with d officers this time few will die then what will u say to d loves one and family sorry mr ... comes in d jail and pick a team who on it who who he dont want a lot of flavouritzen going on /first word it have to much down island people in position people work their way to b were they are d cook bringing rum in d jail for prisoners what done about it sweep under d carpet prisoners drinking rum in d parking lot he know all he can tell d prisoner u trying to shame me that all anybody else is lock down band from d p lot when mr h was their he was fighting him for power now he acting here its is he doing $h1T he glad he is in charge with d meeting he bring a shift it was ask what happen when femal officers has their montly to stay just changing pads without a bath u feel very uncomfortable afers hours no bath room or lunch room for them one ask for a diffrent hours for d femal he will think about it but when to run town and report lies he dont think plz send help d one who adversing him is worst them him when d former supt was their and say we going to search he will go and tell d presoners so they will not fine anything and to all readers that real facts search and u will c for your self help needed bad in d prison more than shake up
As regards the use of Blog sites to get the message out, we are a small place, and the problems of witness identity continue to challenge our legal system. Some have to change thier views of people who are prepared to stand up and be counted, by any means.