By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, May 14, 2022 – More needs to be done to rehabilitate incarcerated islanders according to Rev. John Malcolm, the Member for South Caicos, who was speaking in a passionate address to the House of Assembly on May 25.
The representative from South Caicos rebuked what he described as the inaction in regards to the prison system in the Turks and Caicos.
“I am like the rest of the country also concerned about the rise in crime, there are several factors contributing to crime, one of them in my opinion is the state of our prisons. I am convinced that our prisons are a breeding ground for criminals.”
He explained that with the expertise gained from working as the Director of the National Drug unit and his understanding of the prison mindset he had created a plan years ago to address the state of the prisons.
Malcolm said he had pitched it to several officials including the then Governor and police officials but received no positive response.
“First of all Mr. Speaker the plan calls for a restructuring of the prison, recruiting in psychologists and psychiatrists, this will enable the prison to do profiles for all of the inmates as well as some of the wardens…many of them have psychological problems and developmental problems that are not being addressed so we see young men going into prison and coming out worse than they went in.”
The plan also included a comprehensive works program that would revive the block making facility in the prison and provide job placement for inmates when they left the facility
“Some of them have carpentry skills, put them to work making furniture…Some of them are very artistic to put them to work so they can find an outlet for their art the Grand Turk cruise center is an outlet for TCI art
Other aspects of the plan included remedial learning, mentorship and skills training, matching prisoners with the electricians, plumbers, and others so that they would have a skill upon exit of the prison.
While admitting that the plan might need some fine-tuning to fit the present day he challenged the Government to try this as nothing else was being done.
Hon Malcolm, who is a certified counsellor of substance dependent individuals pointed to recidivism or a return to illegal activity as a contributor to the ongoing high instances of crime.
Bu there was a response from the Government in defence of the prison’s rehab program.
Premier Washington Misick replied to Malcolm’s appeal and said while some prisoners continued to make mischief behind bars, healthy reintegration into society was the Government’s ultimate goal and they were already working towards achieving it.
The Premier described several of the programs already activated for prisoners on the islands.
“On the issue of prisons a lot has been done and it’s not something that has just started. Accommodation training and Mental and Physical health are being addressed…We have one prisoner working full time on a day release. We have two working at the Governor’s residence for are currently working part-time at the national museum, 6 prisoners working on the prison farm, three prisoners working on the ‘A stitch in time’ workshop, 25 prisoners working on internal administrative goals, and four prisoners working in the kitchen.”
The Premier noted that there was in fact an education program in progress along with the Chance for Change program.
Opposition leader, Edwin Astwood in his speech was so moved by Malcolm’s passion that he vowed to use a private members motion to lobby for the implementation of the plan.