Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of National Security, the Hon. Senator Matthew Samuda, says the Ministry is reviewing procedural and technological strategies to strengthen its contraband prevention methods in light of reports of the importation and exportation of contraband within correctional facilities.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of National Security, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, is extending condolences to the family and friends of 32-year-old correctional officer (C/O) Jimel Westney from the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre. Officer Westney was performing his assigned duties during the facilities’ unlocking process when he was attacked and stabbed by an inmate earlier today.

The officer passed away a short while ago while undergoing treatment at the Spanish Town Hospital in St. Catherine.

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) through the Ministry of National Security yesterday received a donation of one million Jamaican dollars (JMD 1,000,000) from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Jamaica for COVID-19 preparations in juvenile institutions.

The donation will be used to purchase nebulizers for asthmatic children, personal protective equipment including: eye protection, gowns, gloves and mask for correctional officers, thermometers, medical disposable bins, chemicals for sanitation and tablets to facilitate online counselling and classes.

A review of the 1985 Correctional Act, its attendant rules and regulations is being undertaken by the Ministry of National Security, says Minister without Portfolio, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda.

According to the Senator, the move to review the Corrections Act is geared towards modernising the legislative framework which governs the operations of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS).

The Department of Correctional Services this morning received a boost in sanitation efforts following the donation of three power washers and four mist blowers from Digicel Foundation’s Operation Sanitise, Advocate, Feed and Enable (SAFE) Mode.

“A safer, more secure Jamaica requires all hands, all sectors and all citizens on deck” says Minister of National Security, the Hon. Dr. Horace Chang. The need for a collaborative approach to crime fighting was outlined by the Minister at the Naming and Commissioning Ceremony for the Jamaica Defence Force’s patrol vessel, HMJS Nanny of the Maroons, in Port Royal on Wednesday (July, 29).

The Ministry of National Security has spent approximately $82 million to acquire two mobile driving simulators to train at-risk-youth residing in vulnerable communities in St. James and Kingston, to operate heavy duty vehicles. The simulators were commissioned by Prime Minister, the Most. Hon. Andrew Holness and Minster of National Security, the Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, at the Cornwall Automotive Training Institute (CATI) in Montego Bay, earlier today.

“Sir, why it had to be three weeks?”, eleven year-old Caylee Cherrington asked Minister without Portfolio, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, as he visited Dupont Primary School, during the closing of the Ministry’s Music, Sports and Technology Summer Programme on Friday (July 31).

The Ministry of National Security has invested approximately $52 million in a Virtual Training and Motorcycle Simulation Programme in Westmoreland, in an attempt to reduce road fatalities and allow the relevant authorities to assess physical capabilities and readiness of motorcyclists.

According to Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of National Security, the Hon. Matthew Samuda, the main causes of road fatalities observed are failure to keep to the left, travelling at excessive speed and turning right without due care.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has received an additional 64 Mitsubishi pickup trucks under the Ministry of National Security’s Project Rebuild Overhaul and Construct (P-R.O.C).

Minister of National Security, the Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, while delivering his address at a brief handing over ceremony at the Office of the Commissioner of Police today, said the double cab vehicles will play a critical role in the success of the operation of the JCF by improving their capacity to move quickly and efficiently.