Crime Prevention Program coming under Home Affairs Ministry, announces Morris

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, May 19, 2022 – A school violence prevention program and more opportunities for incarcerated individuals are only some of the ways the Ministry of Home affairs is tackling social issues in the Turks and Caicos.

Minister of Home Affairs Otis Morris announced the initiatives in his budget debate contribution recently.   The Department of Gender Affairs, as part of its mandate, will develop a ‘Safe School Violence Prevention Program’.

“Creating a safe and inclusive environment is critical to tackling bullying, sexual harassment, peer pressure, etc.”

Morris explained. He did not give a timeline for implementation of the program but noted that the team was also working on a Gender Equality policy.

Morris said the progress had been delayed because rising Covid-19 cases had prohibited consultants from the UN from coming to the Turks and Caicos. But the consultants but were now expected to arrive on May 23 to share their expertise.

The Prison 2022 Project was close to completion, he said noting that 4 areas, in particular, had been identified for strategic support.    The people, the infrastructure, the stakeholders, and customers. Several prison wings were updated and a new wing was constructed with improved security.

Rehabilitation programs created for the prisoners included anger management, substance abuse, think for change, victim empathy, and restorative justice.   Offenders will be given vocational opportunities once they have gone through the rehabilitation program and are on parole, giving them the chance to reintegrate themselves back into society.

Morris applauded the management team and vowed that the Ministry of Home Affairs remained dedicated to the work.