The government of The Bahamas has signed a contract to train 600 inmates and seven correctional officers, a move that National Security Minister Marvin Dames says demonstrates the administration’s understanding of “the evidence-based connection between employability, empowerment and repeat offending.”
“Through this partnership, the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) will provide vocational training leading to the certification of 600 inmates and seven Corrections Officers, the first of its kind and of this magnitude,” Dames said at the signing held earlier this week.
“At present, the ongoing work release program involves less than three per cent of the prison population.”
Dames pointed out that the targeted areas of the BTVI training would include auto mechanics, electrical installation, plumbing, carpentry, garment manufacturing and information technology. The training courses would use existing curricula, he added, and participants would be assessed by instructors at BTVI, in a manner commensurate with students on the main campus.
“To ensure sustainability of the program, the seven selected correctional officers will undergo training that will equip them to function as certified vocational instructors at BTVI, working within the prison environment on a full-time basis. Six of the prison industries will also be upgraded with modernized equipment to support this training initiative.
“The Government of The Bahamas, in re-launching the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Citizen Security and Justice Program, is applying part of the proceeds of this loan to contract BTVI, as one of the aims of the Citizen Security and Justice Program is to reduce the recidivism rate among offenders,” Dames said.
“Inmates will leave the prison with recognized training certification and modernized industry experience,” he noted. “The certificates will bear the logo and insignia of BTVI, which will also allow them to enrol in the institution, if they seek to advance their level of certification after release.”
The National Security Minister said that the released inmate with marketable vocational skills is better positioned for successful re-integration. However, he cautioned that the program, was not a panacea, or a cure-all for crime and violence in the Bahamas.
