The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

OFFICIALS are organising a lengthy exchange programme with the Correctional Service of Canada in a bid to provide skills and training for the future leaders of Her Majesty’s Prison, Bahamas.

Patrick Wright, Superintendent of Prisons, explained the exchange programme would allow for prison officials to understudy at the Canadian facility for up to a year. He made the announcement yesterday while welcoming Canadian Commissioner of Corrections, Don Head.

Mr Head was visiting Her Majesty’s Prison along with Deputy Commissioner Lori MacDonald and Acting Assistant Commissioner Elizabeth Van Allen.

Supt Wright said: “It is incumbent upon us to ensure that employees, and particularly those who work at the prison, receive the relevant training and mentoring which is absolutely essential to ensure our success and ultimately reduce or put a dent in the rate of recidivism.

“It is the government’s objective to improve the performance and professionalism of all officers and to ensure that all officers acquire the necessary skills and training to be effective as we continue to evolve and transform how we operate at Her Majesty’s Prison.”

Supt Wright said an invitation was extended to the Correctional Services in Canada to “assist” the Bahamas.

One of the main thrusts of meetings with Canadian officials, according to Supt Wright, was to organise an understudy programme for Bahamian officers to receive training at the Canadian facility.

Supt Wright said: “The objective is to attach future leaders of Her Majesty’s Prison Bahamas in the Correctional Services in Canada for a period of nine to twelve months to understudy best practices in 21st century corrections, with focus on correctional leadership.”

Canadian Commissioner, Mr Head said: “One of things that’s important to us is to make sure we’re not just exporting a Canadian way of doing business.

“Whatever we do and whatever we share has to be adapted to the Bahamian way of life and their overall vision.

“We see that individuals will come to Canada for a period of time, look at working with our local management, our region management, and as well with my national executive team in Ottawa to help prepare them to be not only leaders of today but the leaders for tomorrow.”