MINISTRY OF NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICE OF THE MINISTER P.O. BOX N-3217 NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS Remarks by The Hon. Tommy Turnquest, M.P. Minister of National Security Delivered at Project Re-entry Conference 9:00 AM Paul Farquharson Conference Centre Police Headquarters, East Street Nassau, The Bahamas
1 Mr. Carl Smith, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of National Security Mr. Ellison Greenslade, Commissioner of Police and other Senior Police Officers Mr. Ronald Ingraham, Chairman of the National L.E.A.D. Institute Mr. Troy Clarke, President and CEO of the National L.E.A.D. Institute Representative of the US Embassy Dr. Richard Pinder, Pastor of Bahamas Faith Ministries Ms. Fay Lassiter, Assistant Chief, Program Services, North Carolina Department of Corrections Mr. Patrick Wright, Assistant Superintendent of Prisons Ms. Kim Welcome, Conference Coordinator Senior Government Officials Invited Guests Ladies and Gentlemen Good Morning
2 I am pleased to be here this morning to participate in the opening ceremony for this LEAD Project Re-entry Conference. I note from the agenda of this Conference that it is expected that there will be an exchange of information on programmes in North Carolina that have realized success in curtailing the incidence of crime and facilitated the integration of ex-convicts into society. The Government of The Bahamas remains open to sharing its knowledge and experiences and we welcome initiatives and strategies that will assist in addressing crime and criminality here in The Bahamas. The Bahamas is challenged by the unacceptable level of crime in our country. Prison statistics reveal that more than 90% of those involved in crime are males; approximately nine out of ten are Bahamian nationals; two out of three are under the age of 35; and fewer than 25% of those admitted to prison possess a high school diploma. The Government s goal is to improve the quality of life and the standard of living of all our citizens including those, who, for one reason or another, find themselves incarcerated in prison. The Prison is required by law to ensure that all suitable inmates are taught a trade and that they are exposed to educational opportunities, particularly those inmates who are in need of remedial education. The rehabilitation thrust at Her Majesty s Prison, therefore, is necessarily on-going and wide in scope. It encompasses inmate classification (to ensure that inmates of similar risks and inclinations are housed together);
3 proper sentence planning; a wide range of technical-vocational and academic programmes; attitude adjustment and behavior modification programmes; a day release work programme as well as a faith-based initiative. The educational thrust for inmates at Her Majesty s Prison is, therefore, purposefully tilted towards preparation for self-employment upon release. At a certificate presentation ceremony this past Thursday, more than one hundred (100) inmates received certificates for having successfully participated in a wide array of subjects ranging from basic computer skills, to auto body repairs and from tailoring to welding. In the weeks and months ahead, Her Majesty s Prison will take inmate education to an even higher level by the introduction of distance learning and the expansion of the horticulture and agricultural programmes. It will see the expansion of programmes to include inmates on remand so that they can spend their time productively and hopefully acquire a skill or enhance themselves while awaiting their cases to be heard. Additionally, efforts are being made to ensure that certificates awarded by the Prison s Correctional Training Institute are endorsed by the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI). Recidivism the rate with which ex-convicts are seen to return to prison having reoffended and been convicted of an offence after being released is often used as an indicator of whether a prison is doing a good job. In the case of Her Majesty s Prison, we have observed significant
4 decreases in the rate of recidivism over the past several years. For example, in 2005 the rate was as high as 42% compared to a rate of 15% in 2010. The Government of The Bahamas has been working assiduously on its Prison Reform Initiative to ensure that Her Majesty s Prison is able to facilitate the men and women who leave the institution in becoming productive members of our communities. We are firmly of the belief that it is easier to bring about change by uplifting inmates rather than by dehumanizing them. Participants at this Conference will have an opportunity to visit Her Majesty s Prison and interact with senior management and staff to gain, first hand, insight on what is taking place at the facility. I am pleased with the progress that has been achieved to date, while recognizing that our work is never complete but on-going. I therefore welcome any assistance that further facilitates the rehabilitation of inmates and their successful integration into society. The partnership that has been formed between the National LEAD Institute and the Criminal Justice Department of the Northwest Piedmont Council of the Government of North Carolina should augur well to the mutual benefit of The Bahamas and North Carolina. The Ministry of National Security encourages the participation of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO s), such as L.E.A.D, in augmenting and enhancing the programmes already offered at the Prison; and, in doing so to collaborate with Her Majesty s Prisons to allow for the sharing of information and the avoidance of a duplication of efforts.
5 The National L.E.A.D Institute is to be commended for its vision and determined efforts in addressing crime and criminality. Its programmes, by their very nature, complement those offered by Government agencies and other social partner agencies. As such, they buttress our efforts towards building stronger, more caring, and safer communities. The Government of The Bahamas accepts its responsibility to take the lead in the fight against crime. However, the Government also recognizes that without the committed assistance of its citizens, the religious community, civic groups, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and others, no amount of resources expended by the Government will have the intended effect of reducing and marginalizing crime to the maximum extent possible. It is hoped that at the end of this three-day of activities The Bahamas and North Carolina will have formed lasting alliances that will be of considerable value in our stance against crime. The participants, themselves, should have a fuller understanding of what L.E.A.D s Project Re-entry Programme entails and a clearer insight into what needs to be done to assist with the adjustment of inmates upon their release from prison, so that they would have an option of living wholesome and productive lives. What is particularly important about the work of the L.E.A.D. Institute is the focus that it gives to addressing the needs of at-risk males in our society prior to them finding themselves detained in our penal institutions. Our primary thrust must always be preventative. In the words
6 of the famous American writer and statesman who escaped slavery, Frederick Douglas, It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. It is certainly easier and less costly to the entire society to place our young people who are at risk on the right path to a productive life than to seek to rehabilitate them during, or after, incarceration. The Government recognizes that there must be several complementary approaches and multiple interventions with which to address crime and criminality. The involvement of civil society organizations where much of the expertise resides is crucial. The Government therefore welcomes the L.E.A.D. Institute to the grouping of NGO s, many of whom over the years, have played their part in building productive lives. On behalf of the Government of The Bahamas and the Ministry of National Security, I extend best wishes for a productive, enlightening and informative Conference. May God bless your deliberations and let us continue working together in building a better Bahamas. I thank you.