As Jamaica advances a more people-centred approach to national security, the Government of Jamaica, through the Ministry of National Security and Peace (MNSP) and the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), is reaffirming its commitment to building safer and more peaceful communities by investing in the health and wellbeing of correctional officers and staff.
Speaking at the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) Health Fair 2026 on Thursday (May 21), Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security and Peace, Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, underscored the critical role staff wellness plays in strengthening rehabilitation efforts, institutional resilience, and national peacebuilding.
“A healthy workforce is a resilient workforce, and resilient institutions are essential to sustaining peace and public safety,” the State Minister stated.
Minister Cuthbert-Flynn further noted that peacebuilding extends beyond communities and must also include the nation’s institutions.
Supported by the framework of the National Correctional Services Policy, the annual health fair forms part of the Government’s broader strategy to enhance staff welfare while strengthening the correctional system’s capacity to support rehabilitation, reduce violence and advance peace.
“... what we are doing here today is a good gesture and it is one grounded in policy. The National Correctional Services Policy is clear. One of our core objectives under Goal 1 is to enhance the work environment, health and welfare of you, the staff of the DCS, with an explicit strategy to facilitate and promote staff health and wellness. The Policy recognises that providing for the safety, health and wellbeing of staff is vital to the optimal running of all our correctional facilities,” explained Minister Cuthbert-Flynn.
Echoing similar sentiments, Commissioner of Corrections, Brigadier (Ret’d) Radgh Mason, in his address outlined that the event “is a declaration that the health and wellness of our staff remain central to the operational readiness, resilience, and long-term success of the Department of Correctional Services.”
Noting that noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, stress-related illnesses and cancer, continue to impact families, workplaces, and national productivity, the Commissioner urged attendees to take full advantage of the event’s offerings.
“I therefore strongly encourage every member of staff to fully utilize the services being offered here today. Know your numbers. Check your blood pressure. Monitor your blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Seek medical guidance early. Prevention will always be more effective and less costly than treatment after illness develops,” he said.
The event provided correctional officers and administrative staff with access to medical screenings, wellness checks, health education, fitness activities, and mental wellness support services.
The initiative reflects the Government’s people-centred approach to national security, recognising that staff wellbeing, rehabilitation, and institutional effectiveness are all interconnected components of Jamaica’s peace agenda.
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