“We believe in you, we have invested in you and we want you to believe in yourselves and invest in yourselves,” is the charge from Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, the Hon. Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn to inmates at the South Camp Adult Correctional Centre.
The State Minister was speaking today (March 20) at the graduation ceremony for forty-four (44) inmates who have successfully completed training in Customer Service, Dancehall and Theatre through partnership with the HEART/NSTA Trust.
In delivering the keynote address she shared that: “you have not only completed a programme but you have embarked on a path of personal change, redefined your goals and have shown a profound commitment to rehabilitation”.
In lauding the efforts of the Department of Correctional Services, Minister Cuthbert-Flynn noted that the correctional officers have played a crucial role in the academic success of the inmates adding “this graduation ceremony is a testament to the fruits of your labour”.
Minister Cuthbert-Flynn further emphasised the government’s continued commitment to improving the skills and changing the mind-set of inmates through the development of the National Correctional Service Policy.
“This means (Goal 3 of the Policy) that the prison industries will provide vocational skills training and first-hand work experiences to incarcerated offender clients. This will assist with the provision of income earning opportunities upon release from the Correctional Centre,” she explained.
The State Minister congratulated the inmates and reminded the cohort that “you are a testament to the power of second chances, the strength of human will and the importance of growth; please use every single day to move forward, to better yourself and, in turn, better the world around you”.
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