MINISTER without portfolio in the Ministry of National Security (MNS), Senator Matthew Samuda, along with colleague Minister of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change (MHURECC), Pearnel Charles Jr, participated in tree-planting exercises at two correctional facilities in St Catherine in recognition of International Day of Forests which is to be observed today, March 21.

Sixteen trees will, in the end, be planted at Rio Cobre Juvenile Correctional Centre, with 56 at Tamarind Farm Adult Correctional Centre.

“We must understand the process of rehabilitation for those who we’ve had to extract from society and kept in custody, whether as inmates or as wards of the State, that certain things must be a part of their rehabilitation process. So, some of the days that society celebrates particularly, as it relates to the environment, need to be actualised,” Samuda said.

The minister stated that the day’s exercise was to set the tone for today’s activity, during which inmates from all the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) facilities will be planting trees. He added that “planting trees is a learning moment for the wards at the Rio Cobre Juvenile Correctional Centre as it teaches them the importance of environmental benefits that they can bring about for themselves and for their families when they re-enter society at the end of their rehabilitation programme”. He noted as well that it presents an opportunity for the wards and staff to learn to care for the trees and nurture their growth.

Charles Jr said the activity was a way of establishing collaboration across ministries in order to join efforts, increasing the amount of trees planted on the island. He said a number of the correctional facilities have enough land space to be utilised for tree planting.

Charles Jr lauded Samuda for inviting representatives from his ministry, as well as from the Forestry Department, to participate. He stated that plans were already in place for an expansion of collaboration between the MNS and the MHURECC to utilise DCS and all the other agencies and departments as best as possible; direct national messages around environmental protection; promote the need for sustainability; and ultimately to building resilience across the country.

“The Forestry Department is collaborating not just with DCS, but also with Food For the Poor and other stakeholders locally, regionally and internationally to make sure we achieve our target of the three million trees,” Charles said.

Commissioner of corrections, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Gary Rowe described the initiative as a worthwhile opportunity that will benefit both wards, inmates and correctional officers.