Department of Correctional Services is in an unhappy state

Dear Editor,

The difficult working conditions at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services absolutely deserve to be taken into account.

That protest on Wednesday is far deeper than a union mobilization. Those officers cannot take it anymore; working in an increasingly unsafe environment, working overtime without pay, and other officers’ shift because of staffing shortages; this is ridiculous!

Senior Officer Whymns when asked the question, “Do you feel like you’re being taking advantage of?” responded, “Miss, we are being walked on.” An officer of 31 years felt that deep.

The government is building, the government is doing groundbreaking, the government is opening bridges, but yet has not tabled anything for prison reform. This is not just something that just happened; this has been like this far too long that governments fail to address.

It was terrifying to hear that vehicles officers use to transport particular inmates, some with bounties on their heads, broke down in the road. What kind of nonsense is this?

You supplied a COVID-19 ambassador team with almost 10 new cars, the Royal Bahamas Police Force with car upgrades, new government vehicles for senior officials, but have yet to release a slate of vehicles to the Department of Correctional Services? This is why the people are feeling they are being walked on! They feel forgotten!

The officer was very right in her statement yesterday when she said this country sleeps at peace at night because of the corrections officers. They play a vital role. And to have them protesting poses a serious threat to our safety.

The jail that was designed to hold so many is at capacity. But unfortunately, for our safety; how can the prison at this point refuse to accept the convict? Where else are they supposed to go?

This protest was far beyond pay. It was about safety, and officers have nothing to work with because just like those who occupy the jail cells, they have been thrown away and forgotten. How can this be okay? This is not!

I urge this minister to establish a better working environment for these officers. The prison system we have here is a mess. We’ve upgraded to CORRECTIONS, and I’m not even sure that this is what is being instituted with such limited resources.

It is time to implement a strong prison reform that works for officers and inmates, because not only do we need a new prison, we need a new prison culture.

That is if we meant correction to rehabilitate these individuals. But at the same token, who is to do that when the persons designated are not happy? There’s a saying, “happy wife, happy home.”

That goes for all workplaces. I believe once your employees are happy, they will effectively do their jobs.

I wish to remind the government the prison is a vital part of our safety for all communities. The lives of officers are very important. They are not animals, they are not dumb, or uneducated; many of them love what they do; they deserve to be treated fairly!

— Dr. Matheo Smith

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