BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – The penal system in Barbados is undergoing a wave of reforms and developments to make the prison service more sustainable, rehabilitative, and responsive to the needs of both inmates and officers.

During the graduation ceremony at the Barbados Prison Service, Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams outlined a slate of initiatives designed to modernise prison operations, reduce environmental impact, and improve working conditions for staff.

Among the key projects are: a green energy initiative, including a partnership with the Barbados National Oil Company to roll out photovoltaic systems; improved food security, supported by a continued expansion of the prison farm; greater water sustainability through the use of recycled water; fleet modernisation, with plans to phase out fossil fuel vehicles in favour of hybrid electric alternatives; and upgrades to information technology infrastructure to enhance prison management and operations.

At the heart of this reform agenda is a renewed focus on rehabilitation supported by educational opportunities. Abrahams revealed there would be a new programme aimed at boosting educational opportunities for all in the penal system.

“You’d be pleased to know that one of those programmes designed to enhance the educational opportunities for prisoners is also going to be open to prison officers as well so that where anybody in prison benefits you get a chance to benefit as well to become your best selves. Our government will continue to place penal reform high on its agenda.

“To this end, we will continue to devote attention to ensuring that the human resource needs of the prison are met. In addition to reintegration and treatment policies, alternatives to incarceration and criminal justice reform will be pursued with purpose,” he said

The minister also acknowledged the personal sacrifices made by the recruits, especially those who left jobs and families to take part in the rigorous 14-week live-in training programme.

Recognising that the current stipend may not reflect the reality of that commitment, Abrahams announced that the next intake of recruits can expect an increase in apprenticeship pay.

Abrahams explained, “You will be pleased to know that the superintendent has pressed for an enhancement to the apprenticeship pay for recruits. Going forward, the next cohort should expect to receive increased benefits. We accept that for you to come here, some of you have jobs, some of you have dependents, you have children. For you to come and go into a living programme for 14 weeks, you have to leave that behind and take a gamble on yourself.

“While we appreciate what you did, I accept that the stipend that currently exists is not enough. I will support the superintendent of prison in his position to get an increased stipend for the next batch of recruits, bearing in mind we are calling upon you to do a national duty, so we have to do our part as well.”

In addition, he provided a long-awaited update on the contentious issue of unpaid compensation for 12-hour shifts previously worked by officers during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I also wish to advise that we are finally in the home stretch of the settlement of the 12-hour compensation package for those who did the 12-hour shifts, right, we are in the final stretch of tying up that. That has been a bugbear for a number of you for a while and the complete resolution of that is imminent,” he said