The goal to complete the Rehabilitation Programme at Her Majesty’s Prison by the end of the year is on track, Education and Culture Minister Myron Walwyn told the House of Assembly on Friday.
In February, Mr. Walwyn outlined a plan to institute a variety of educational and vocational programmes at the facility in Balsam Ghut.
Many of those classes are already under way, including computer and keyboarding lessons, anger management, and behavioural management, he said, adding that two prisoners are even apprenticing to learn how to blow glass.
At the time of his last speech, there were four inmates engaged in such activities, but now that number has grown to 59, the minister said.
He added that the Public Works Department, Rite Way Supermarket, and Green VI are undertaking work programmes with some of the prisoners to have them do activities such as sewing, making jewellery to sell, and recycling boxes for the products they mail.
Some of the work is part of the Restorative Justice Programme, which is intended for convicts to correct the wrongs they committed. Once they have completed that programme, Mr. Walwyn said, they’ll be eligible to earn wages for their work.
There is also now a library, and the farm has expanded and is working to provide eggs and other goods to the community, he said.
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